tip
tip Lexical Profile
tip Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The pointed or rounded end or extremity of something slender or tapering.
"She touched the tip of her nose with a gloved finger."
A small sum of money given to someone as a reward for a service performed, in addition to the basic price.
"We left a generous tip for the waiter after enjoying the meal."
A small but useful piece of practical advice, or a piece of confidential information.
"The gardening book is full of helpful tips on growing tomatoes."
British A place where rubbish or waste material is left, or a very untidy room or place.
"We took the old mattresses to the local council tip."
• verb
To overbalance or cause to lean, incline, or fall over to one side.
"Be careful not to tip the canoe as you climb in."
To give a small sum of money to someone as a reward for service.
"He tipped the porter who carried his luggage up to the hotel room."
To empty out the contents of a container by holding it at an angle.
"She tipped the contents of her handbag onto the kitchen table."
To attach to or cover the extreme end of something.
"The distant mountain peaks were tipped with fresh snow."
To predict as likely to win or achieve something.
"She is widely tipped to become the company's next chief executive."
• Rhymes for tip
Word Origin & Etymology
The word represents a convergence of multiple origins: the sense 'pointed end' derives from Middle English tippe (likely from Low German tip), the verb 'to tilt' emerged in the 14th century of uncertain Germanic origin, and the sense 'gratuity' arose in 17th-century thieves' cant meaning 'to hand over or give.'