From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsinksink1 /sɪŋk/ ●●● W3 verb (past tense sank /sæŋk/ or sunk /sʌŋk/ American English, past participle sunk /sʌŋk/) 1 in water [intransitive] to go down below the surface of water, mud etc OPP float Their motorboat struck a rock and began to sink. The kids watched as the coin sank to the bottom of the pool. The heavy guns sank up to their barrels in the mud.2 boat [transitive] to damage a ship so badly that it sinks A luxury yacht was sunk in a bomb attack yesterday.3 move lower [intransitive] to move downwards to a lower level The sun was sinking behind the coconut palms. Her chin sank onto her chest, and she looked despairing.4 fall/sit down [intransitive]FALL to fall down or sit down heavily, especially because you are very tired and weaksink into/to/down/back etc She let out a groan and sank into a chair. He let go of her shoulders and she sank at once to the floor. Marion sank down on a rock, and wept. The minister sank to his knees (=he went down into a kneeling position) and prayed.5 get worse [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]WORSE to gradually get into a worse conditionsink into They lost all their money and sank into desperate poverty. The good mood left me and I sank into depression. The doctor said that the boy was sinking fast (=getting weaker and about to die). 6 → your heart sinks7 lower amount/value [intransitive]VALUE#LESS to go down in amount or value SYN drop OPP rise Shares in the company have sunk as low as 620p.sink to The population of the village sank to just a few families.8 voice [intransitive] writtenQUIET if your voice sinks, it becomes very quietsink to/into Her voice sank to a whisper.9 → sinking feeling10 → be sunk11 → sink without trace12 → sink so low13 use something sharp [transitive]PUT to put your teeth or something sharp into someone’s flesh, into food etcsink something into something The dog sank its teeth into my arm. She sank her fork into the pie.14 dig into ground [transitive]DIG if you sink something such as a well or part of a building, you dig a hole to put it into the ground A well was sunk in the back garden, and water could be pumped up into the kitchen.15 → sink or swim16 money [transitive] to spend a lot of money on somethingsink something in/into something They sank their entire savings into their house. 17 ball [transitive]DSG to put a ball into a hole or basket in games such as golf or basketball18 → sink your differences19 drink [transitive] British English informalDRINK to drink alcohol, especially in large quantities We sank a few pints at the pub first. → sink in→ See Verb table
DHa large open container that you fill with water and use for washing yourself, washing dishes etc → basin Dirty plates were piled high in the sink. → everything but the kitchen sink at everything(7)
Examples from the Corpus
sink• The stock index had sunk 197.92 points by midday.• Jane put it in and of course it sank.• Hundreds of passengers tried desperately to escape from the boat as it sank.• Pierce sank a 3-point basket two minutes into the game.• The sun sank and darkness fell on the island.• The unsinkable had sunk, and taken with it half of its passengers and crew.• One battleship was sunk and two were badly damaged in last night's fighting.• She sank back again on to the stair.• Fortunately, the sinking barge did not leak any fuel into the harbor.• Gradually, the sun sank below the horizon.• Kiss her and your lips sink deep into her cheeks.• The guns sank deeper and deeper into the mud.• The price of crude oil could sink even further.• The first exploratory oil well was sunk in late 1987.• With the car sinking into a marsh, there wasn't a moment to spare.• As the sun sank lower and lower, the sky first turned pink and then orange.• She couldn't stand the poverty, seeing people sinking lower and lower, with no ambition.• The building's foundations have sunk several inches in recent years.• Three ships were sunk that night by enemy torpedoes.• Submarines were used to sink the enemy's supply ships.• His heart sank the way it always did when she left him.• The kids watched as the coin sank to the bottom of the pool.• The kid sank weakly, almost to the ground, grimacing, but did not say a word.• There was a sucking noise, and then the branch sank without trace.sun ... sinking• The sun was just sinking behind the dark mountains.• The sun was sinking in a red glow, the lights were coming out in Eldercombe Village.sank to ... knees• As the pilgrims passed, peasants who had gathered from the countryside sank to their knees.• I dropped my glove and sank to my knees.• Then she realized she'd forgotten to kneel down when she came in, and blushing, sank to her knees.• When the nail finally pulled free, I sank to my knees.• Norman sank to his knees and began to sob piteously.• With a cry of despair, Ronni sank to her knees and collapsed into tears.• Monsignor Delgard sank to his knees, one hand still grasping the top of the lectern.• As she sank to her knees, the Reichsmarschall felt the winkle underneath the whale begin to rise.sinking fast• Despite pulling the elevator back and the aeroplane changing attitude, it carried on, sinking fast.• Fergus had been waist deep and sinking fast.• She twisted round and saw Pet up to her shoulders in ooze, sinking fast.• With his credit card statements no longer cushioned by company expenses, John found himself sinking fast in financial quicksand.• I was sinking fast in the mire of soft money.• As it is, our reputation is sinking fast in the west.• Mary is also sinking fast, now at the stage of complete alienation from her family.sink to/into• The marsh was not like water, and the car didn't sink to. he bottom.• It does not encourage religious authorities to sink into meditation, as do the Hindu fakirs.• I can feel a sizable sense of sorrow for people who have sunk to such degradation.• He is not going to sink to that.• He sat above Daisy, talking gently to her, as she gradually sank into the bog.• While it was on top, it lost some of the bubbles and sank to the bottom again.• Then it should be sunk into the gravel or sand base of the main tank.• At last the sun sank into the sea and night arose.sank ... teeth• I sat on the wheelbarrow and sank my teeth into a fresh loaf.• Bette concluded with a gasp and sank her teeth into her sandwich.• Then she sank her teeth into that flesh which was not flesh.well ... sunk• A large number of wells are then sunk into the hot water deposits, thus allowing circulation.sinksink2 ●●● S3 noun [countable] DHa large open container that you fill with water and use for washing yourself, washing dishes etc → basin Dirty plates were piled high in the sink. → everything but the kitchen sink at everything(7)Examples from the Corpus
sink• The cherry red formica-faced sink unit had been given a wash down.• The kitchen was like a big utility room with a huge sink, a stone floor, and a large wooden table.• She was in the middle of wringing the water out of a red rayon skirt she had been washing at the kitchen sink.• There was a stainless-steel sink, and a mirrored medicine cabinet.• The sweaters hung beneath the open hatch, the sink was empty and the oilskins stowed away.• Except it was under the sink, I believe.sinksink3 adjective → sink estate/schoolExamples from the Corpus
sink• He swam away from the sinking ship.Origin sink1 Old English sincan 