sink1

verb (past sank /saŋk/; past participle sunk /sʌŋk/)

• 1 [no object] go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid; become submerged:he saw the coffin sink below the surface of the waves
• (of a ship) go to the bottom of the sea or some other body of water because of damage or a collision:the trawler sank with the loss of all six crew
• [with object] cause (a ship) to sink:a freak wave sank their boat near the shore
• fail and not be seen or heard of again:the film sank virtually without trace
• [with object] cause to fail:this pledge could sink the government
• [with object] conceal, keep in the background, or ignore:they agreed to sink their differences

• 2 [no object] descend from a higher to a lower position; drop downwards:you can relax on the veranda as the sun sinks low
• (of a person) lower oneself or drop down gently:she sank back on to her pillow
• [with adverbial of direction] gradually penetrate into the surface of something:her feet sank into the thick pile of the carpet

• 3 [no object] gradually decrease or decline in value, amount, quality, or intensity:their output sank to a third of the pre-war figure
• lapse or fall into a particular state or condition:he sank into a coma after suffering a brain haemorrhage
• approach death:the doctor concluded that the lad was sinking fast

• 4 [with object] insert beneath a surface:rails fixed in place with screws sunk below the surface of the wood
• (sink something into) cause something sharp to penetrate (a surface):the dog sank its teeth into her arm
• [with object and adverbial] push or thrust (an object) into something:Kelly stood watching, her hands sunk deep into her pockets
• excavate (a well) or bore (a shaft) vertically downwards:they planned to sink a gold mine in Oklahoma
• hit (a ball) into a hole in golf or snooker: he sank the black into the green pocket to secure victory
• (in golf) hit the ball into the hole with (a putt or other shot):he sank a four-foot birdie putt at the fifth hole

• 5 [with object] British informal rapidly consume (an alcoholic drink):English players sinking a few post-match lagers