dip
dihp
Dip (verb) means to lower something briefly into a liquid. Example: “Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate and leave them to set.”
verb
1
To lower something briefly into a liquid.
"Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate and leave them to set."
"She dipped the brush into the paint."
"He dipped a biscuit into his tea before eating it."
2
To drop slightly in level, value, or amount.
"Sales tend to dip in January once the holiday shopping ends."
"Temperatures dip below freezing overnight."
"The company's share price dipped after the announcement."
noun
1
A thick sauce for dunking food such as chips or vegetables.
"Would you like hummus or salsa as a dip with your carrot sticks?"
"Mum made a creamy cheese dip for the party."
"They served guacamole as a dip with the tortilla chips."
2
A brief swim.
"After the long walk, they enjoyed a refreshing dip in the sea."
"I fancy a dip in the pool before breakfast."
"We went for a quick dip in the lake before lunch."
3
A slight downward slope or drop in a surface.
"The cyclist slowed as the track made a dip towards the stream."
"There is a small dip in the middle of the field where water collects."
"The road has a sudden dip just past the bridge."
How to use dip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo lower briefly into liquid, to drop slightly, or (as a noun) a sauce, a quick swim, or a small downward slope.
Common mistake
"Dip into" savings/funds means to use a small part of them, not to fully spend them.
Common pairings
dip in prices
take a dip
dip into savings
chips and dip
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Word forms
- Plural
- dips
- Third person singular
- dips
- Past tense
- dipped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the strawberries into melted chocolate and leave them to set.
Etymology
From Old English dyppan, related to the word "deep."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dip” mean?
The word “dip” means to lower something briefly into a liquid. In plain terms, to lower briefly into liquid, to drop slightly, or (as a noun) a sauce, a quick swim, or a small downward slope.
How do you pronounce “dip”?
“Dip” is pronounced dihp (/dɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “dip” in a sentence?
Here is “dip” used in a sentence: “She dipped the brush into the paint.”
What part of speech is “dip”?
Depending on how it is used, “dip” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “dip” come from?
The word “dip” comes from Old English. From Old English dyppan, related to the word "deep.".
Is “dip” a common word?
“Dip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dip” have?
“Dip” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to lower something briefly into a liquid.
What is the difference between dip and dunk?
Both involve putting something into a liquid, but to dip is to lower it briefly and often only partly, while to dunk usually means pushing it right in, especially food into a drink, as in dunking a biscuit in tea. Dunk is the more informal word of the two.
Is a dip the same as a sauce?
A dip is a particular kind of sauce: one made thick enough for dunking food such as chips, crackers, or vegetables into it. Sauces in general can be much thinner and are often poured over food rather than used for dunking.
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