sink
sink Lexical Profile
sink Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fixed basin with a water supply and a drain, typically used for washing hands or dishes.
"She left the dirty dishes piled high in the kitchen sink."
A body or process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a particular substance from a system.
"The world's oceans act as a massive carbon sink, absorbing a significant portion of atmospheric carbon dioxide."
A natural depression in a land surface communicating with a subterranean passage, frequently formed in limestone regions.
"The heavy rains eroded the limestone, causing a massive sink to open up in the middle of the field."
• verb
To go down below the surface of a liquid; to become submerged.
"The heavy stone will immediately sink to the bottom of the pond."
To drop or fall gradually to a lower level, state, or condition.
"As the sun began to sink below the horizon, the sky turned a brilliant shade of orange."
To drive or force something fully into a solid surface.
"The carpenter had to sink the nails deeply into the wooden beam to ensure a secure frame."
Word Nuance & Usage
In standard English, the past simple tense is 'sank' (e.g., 'The ship sank'), while 'sunk' is strictly the past participle (e.g., 'The ship has sunk'), though colloquial usage sometimes incorrectly blends the two.
• Rhymes for sink
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'sincan' (intransitive: to become submerged, go under) and 'sencan' (transitive: to submerge), tracing back to Proto-Germanic '*senkwanan'. Cognate with Dutch 'zinken' and German 'sinken'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.