sink  (s ĭngk)
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v. sank (săngk) or sunk (sŭngk), sunk, sink·ing, sinks v.intr.1. a. To go below the surface of water or another liquid: We watched the leaky inner tube slowly sink. b. To descend to the bottom of a body of water or other liquid: found the wreck where it had sunk. 2. a. To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages: The water in the lake sank several feet during the long, dry summer. b. To subside or settle gradually: Cracks developed as the building sank. 3. To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting. 4. To slope downward; incline: The road sinks as it approaches the stream. 5. a. To fall or lower oneself slowly, as from weakness or fatigue: The exhausted runner sank to the ground. b. To feel great disappointment or discouragement: Her heart sank within her. 6. a. To pass into something; penetrate: The claws sank into the flesh of the prey. b. To steep or soak: The wine has sunk into my shirt. 7. To pass into a specified condition: She sank into a deep sleep. 8. a. To deteriorate in quality or condition: The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace. b. To diminish, as in value: Gold prices are sinking. 9. To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful: His voice sank to a whisper. 10. To make an impression; become felt or understood: The meaning finally sank in. v.tr.1. To cause to descend beneath the surface or to the bottom of a liquid: sink a ship. 2. a. To cause to penetrate deeply: He sank his sword into the dragon's belly. b. To force into the ground: sink a piling. c. To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth. d. To cause to drop or lower: sank the bucket into the well. e. Sports To propel (a ball or shot) into a hole, basket, or pocket. 3. To cause to be engrossed: "Frank sank himself in another book" (Patricia Highsmith). 4. a. To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful: She sank her voice when the manager walked by. b. To reduce in quantity or worth: The bad news will sink markets around the world. 5. To debase the nature of; degrade: The scandal has sunk him in the eyes of many. 6. To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy: Loss of advertising sank the newspaper. 7. To suppress or hide: He sank his arrogance and apologized. 8. Informal To defeat, as in a game. 9. To invest or spend, often without getting a return or adequate value: I've sunk a lot of money into that car. 10. To pay off (a debt). n.1. A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water. 2. A cesspool. 3. A sinkhole. 4. A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system. 5. A place regarded as wicked and corrupt: That city is a sink of corruption. Idioms: sink (one's) teeth into Informal To undertake an endeavor energetically: She sank her teeth into the challenging project. sink or swim Informal To fail or succeed without alternative.
[Middle English sinken, from Old English sincan.]
sinka·ble adj. | 
