sink1

verb (past sank /saNGk/ or sunk /səNGk/; past participle sunk /səNGk/)

• 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 members
• disappear and not be seen or heard of again:the film sank virtually without trace
• [with object] cause (a ship) to go to the bottom of the sea or other body of water:a freak wave sank their boat near the shore
• [with object] cause to fail:she apparently wishes to sink the company
• [with object] conceal, keep in the background, or ignore:they agreed to sink their differences

• 2 [no object] descend; drop:Sam felt the ground sinking beneath his feet you can relax on the veranda as the sun sinks
• (of a person) lower oneself or drop gently:she sank back onto her pillow
• [with adverbial of direction] gradually penetrate the surface of something:her feet sank into the thick pile of the carpet
• [with object] (sink something into) cause something sharp to penetrate (a surface):the dog sank its teeth into her arm

• 3 [no object] gradually decrease or decline in value, amount, quality, or intensity:their output sank to a third of the prewar figure the reputation of the mayor sank to a very low level
• lapse or fall into a particular state or condition, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant:he sank into a coma after suffering a brain hemorrhage
• approach death:the doctor concluded that Sanders was sinking fast

• 4 [with object] insert beneath a surface by digging or hollowing out:rails attached with screws sunk below the surface of the wood
• excavate (a well) or bore (a shaft) more or less vertically downward:they planned to sink a gold mine in Oklahoma
• hit (a ball) into a hole in golf or billiards.
• insert into something:Kelly stood watching, her hands sunk deep into her pockets