dip

verb (dips, dipping, dipped)

• 1 [with object] (dip something in/into) put or let something down quickly or briefly in or into (liquid):he dipped a brush in the paint
• [no object] (dip into) put a hand or tool into (a bag or container) in order to take something out:Ian dipped into his briefcase and pulled out a photograph
• [no object] (dip into) spend from or make use of (one’s financial resources):you won’t have to dip into your savings
• [no object] (dip into) read only parts of (a publication) or explore (a subject) in a desultory manner.
• take (snuff).
• immerse (sheep) in a chemical solution that kills parasites.
• make (a candle) by immersing a wick repeatedly in hot wax: (as adjective dipped)dipped candles are made using simple equipment
• informal dated baptize (someone) by immersion in water.

• 2 [no object] sink, drop, or slope downward:swallows dipped and soared the sun had dipped below the horizon
• (of a level or amount) become lower or smaller, typically temporarily:the president’s popularity has dipped audiences dipped below 600,000 for the series
• [with object] lower or move (something) downward:the plane dipped its wings

noun

• 1a brief swim:she went for a dip in a pool
• a brief immersion in liquid:a dip in hot water is prescribed to destroy fruit flies
• short for sheep dip.
• a cursory read of a publication or a superficial exploration of a subject:a quick dip into this document

• 2a thick sauce in which pieces of food are dunked before eating:tasty garlic dip

• 3a brief downward slope followed by an upward one:the road’s precipitous dips and turns
• an act of sinking or dropping briefly before rising again:a dip in the share price

• 4 technical the extent to which something is angled downward from the horizontal, in particular.
• (also magnetic dip) the angle made with the horizontal at any point by the earth’s magnetic field, or by a magnetic needle in response to this.
• Geology the angle a stratum makes with the horizontal:the cliff profile tends to be dominated by the dip of the beds
• Astronomy & Surveying the apparent depression of the horizon from the line of observation, due to the curvature of the earth.

• 5 informal dated a pickpocket.

• 6North American informal a stupid or foolish person.

• 7 archaic a candle made by immersing a wick repeatedly in hot wax.