- 1 [intransitive, transitive] to move so that one end or side is higher than the other; to move something into this position synonym tilt (+ adv./prep.) The boat tipped to one side. The seat tips forward to allow passengers into the back. tip something (+ adv./prep.) She tipped her head back and laughed loudly. He tipped the wheelbarrow on its side.
- 2 [transitive] tip something/somebody + adv./prep. to make something/somebody come out of a container or its/their position by holding or lifting it/them at an angle She tipped the dirty water down the drain. The bus stopped abruptly, nearly tipping me out of my seat.
- 3[transitive] tip something + adv./prep. to touch something lightly so that it moves in a particular direction The goalkeeper just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar. leave rubbish
- 4[intransitive, transitive] tip (something) (British English) to leave rubbish/garbage somewhere outdoors in order to get rid of it ‘No tipping.’ (= for example, on a notice) give extra money
- 5 [intransitive, transitive] to give somebody an extra amount of money to thank them for something they have done for you as part of their job Americans were always welcome because they tended to tip heavily. tip somebody Did you remember to tip the waiter? tip somebody something She tipped the porter a dollar. See related entries: Dining out predict success
- 6[transitive] (especially British English) to say in advance that somebody/something will be successful tip somebody/something (for something) The band is being tipped for the top. tip somebody/something as something The senator has been tipped by many as a future president. tip somebody/something to do something The actor is tipped to win an Oscar for his performance. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbhotly, strongly, widely, … prepositionas, for See full entry cover end
- 7[transitive, usually passive] tip something (with something) to cover the end or edge of something with a colour, a substance, etc. The wings are tipped with yellow. Word Originverb senses 1 to 4 late Middle English: perhaps of Scandinavian origin, influenced later by tip in the sense ‘touch with a tip or point’. Current senses of the noun date from the mid 19th cent. verb senses 5 to 6 early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘give, hand, pass’): probably from tip ‘thin pointed end of something’. verb sense 7 late Middle English: from Old Norse typpi (noun), typpa (verb), typptr ‘tipped’; related to the noun top.Extra examples He has been widely tipped as a future CEO. The band is being hotly tipped for the top. The senator has been widely tipped as a future president. His hat was tipped over his forehead. Suddenly the boat tipped to one side. While trying to sit down, I tipped the tray and my entire dinner went onto the rug.Idioms
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//tɪp//; NAmE NAmE//tɪp//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they tip BrE BrE//tɪp//; NAmE NAmE//tɪp//
he / she / it tips BrE BrE//tɪps//; NAmE NAmE//tɪps//
past simple tipped BrE BrE//tɪpt//; NAmE NAmE//tɪpt//
past participle tipped BrE BrE//tɪpt//; NAmE NAmE//tɪpt//
-ing form tipping BrE BrE//ˈtɪpɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈtɪpɪŋ//
Dining outI take my hat off to somebody, hats off to somebody (both especially British English) (usually North American English I tip my hat to somebody) jump to other results
(British English, informal) it is/was raining heavily
to affect the result of something in one way rather than another In an interview, smart presentation can tip the scales in your favour. New evidence tipped the balance against the prosecution.
to make your plans or intentions known
to weigh a particular amount He tipped the scales at just over 80 kilos.
(British English, informal) to give somebody secret information that they can use to gain an advantage for themselves There’s no way he would have bought those shares if someone in the company hadn’t tipped him the wink. Phrasal Verbstip offtip over
Check pronunciation: tip
