Definition of the word sink

Pronunciation of vocabulary sink

sinkverb

bồn rửa

/sɪŋk/

Definition of the word <b>sink</b>

Origin of the word sink

The word "sink" has a fascinating origin. It comes from the Old English word "sincan," which means "to go down" or "to descend." This word is also related to the Old Norse word "synkja," which means "to sink" or "to drown." In the 14th century, the word "sink" began to be used as a verb to describe the act of going down or falling below the surface, whether it be water, sand, or any other material. In the 17th century, the term "sink" started to be applied to the fixture in a bathroom or kitchen that is used to drain liquids. This usage is thought to have originated from the idea of water "sinking" or going down as it flows through the drain. Today, the word "sink" has evolved to have a range of meanings, including a physical fixture, an act of going down, and even a figurative sense of failing or being unable to succeed.

Vocabulary summary sink

typenoun

meaningsink

exampleto sink a ship

meaning((usually) (figuratively)) puddle, swamp; nest

exampledrought sinks stream: drought causes the water level in the stream to drop

exampleriver sinks: river water down

exampleprices sink: price drops

meaningswamp

examplehis eyes have sunk in

typeintransitive verb sank; sunk

meaningsink

exampleto sink a ship

meaninglower, go down, truncate, fade away, subside, sink

exampledrought sinks stream: drought causes the water level in the stream to drop

exampleriver sinks: river water down

exampleprices sink: price drops

meaninghollow (cheek...)

examplehis eyes have sunk in

Example of vocabulary sinkin water/mud, etc.

meaning

to go down below the surface or towards the bottom of a liquid or soft substance

đi xuống bên dưới bề mặt hoặc hướng tới đáy của chất lỏng hoặc chất mềm

  • The ship sank to the bottom of the sea.

    Con tàu chìm xuống đáy biển.

  • The submarine sank after an explosion.

    Tàu ngầm bị chìm sau một vụ nổ.

  • We're sinking!

    Chúng ta đang chìm!

  • The wheels started to sink into the mud.

    Bánh xe bắt đầu lún xuống bùn.

  • The little boat sank beneath the waves.

    Con thuyền nhỏ chìm dưới sóng.

Extra examples:
  • It seemed as though the ship had sunk without trace.

    Dường như con tàu đã chìm không dấu vết.

  • Duane was in waist-deep and sinking fast.

    Duane ngập đến thắt lưng và chìm nhanh.

  • He sank up to his knees in the mud.

    Anh ta bị lún sâu vào bùn tới tận đầu gối.

  • Our feet sank deep into the soft sand as we walked.

    Chân chúng tôi lún sâu vào cát mềm khi bước đi.

Example of vocabulary sinkboat

meaning

to damage a boat or ship so that it goes below the surface of the sea, etc.

làm hư hỏng một chiếc thuyền hoặc một con tàu để nó chìm dưới mặt biển, v.v.

  • The battleship was sunk by a torpedo.

    Chiến hạm bị đánh chìm bởi ngư lôi.

  • Bombs sank all four carriers.

    Bom đánh chìm cả 4 tàu sân bay.

  • Five brothers all died when their ship was sunk.

    Năm anh em đều chết khi tàu của họ bị chìm.

Example of vocabulary sinkfall/sit down

meaning

to move downwards, especially by falling or sitting down

di chuyển xuống dưới, đặc biệt là bằng cách ngã hoặc ngồi xuống

  • I sank into an armchair.

    Tôi ngồi phịch xuống một chiếc ghế bành.

  • She sank back into her seat, exhausted.

    Cô ngồi phịch xuống ghế, mệt mỏi.

  • The old man had sunk to his knees.

    Ông già đã quỳ xuống.

Extra examples:
  • He sank lower into his chair.

    Anh ta ngồi thấp hơn vào ghế của mình.

  • I sank gratefully into the warm, dry bed.

    Tôi thả mình xuống chiếc giường khô ráo, ấm áp với lòng biết ơn.

  • She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet.

    Cô duyên dáng ngồi xuống chiếc đệm dưới chân anh.

  • She sank to the ground, exhausted.

    Cô ngã xuống đất vì kiệt sức.

Example of vocabulary sinkmove downwards

meaning

to move slowly downwards

di chuyển chậm xuống dưới

  • The sun was sinking in the west.

    Mặt trời đã lặn ở phía tây.

  • The sun had sunk below the horizon.

    Mặt trời đã lặn dưới đường chân trời.

  • The foundations of the building are starting to sink.

    Nền móng của tòa nhà đang bắt đầu chìm xuống.

Example of vocabulary sinkbecome weaker

meaning

to decrease in amount, volume, strength, etc.

để giảm số lượng, khối lượng, sức mạnh, vv.

  • The pound has sunk to its lowest recorded level against the dollar.

    Đồng bảng Anh đã giảm xuống mức thấp nhất được ghi nhận so với đồng đô la.

  • He is clearly sinking fast (= getting weaker quickly and will soon die).

    Anh ta rõ ràng đang chìm nhanh (= yếu đi nhanh chóng và sẽ sớm chết).

Extra examples:
  • The project gradually sank into oblivion.

    Dự án dần dần rơi vào quên lãng.

  • The airline industry is sinking under the weight of its losses.

    Ngành hàng không đang chìm trong gánh nặng thua lỗ.

Example of vocabulary sinkof voice

meaning

to become quieter

trở nên yên tĩnh hơn

  • Her voice sank to a whisper.

    Giọng cô chìm xuống thành tiếng thì thầm.

Example of vocabulary sinkdig in ground

meaning

to make a deep hole in the ground

để tạo ra một cái hố sâu trong lòng đất

  • to sink a well/shaft/mine

    đánh chìm một cái giếng/giếng/mỏ

meaning

to place something in the ground by digging

đặt cái gì đó xuống đất bằng cách đào

  • to sink a post into the ground

    để chìm một bài viết vào lòng đất

Example of vocabulary sinkprevent success

meaning

to prevent somebody or somebody’s plans from succeeding

ngăn chặn kế hoạch của ai đó hoặc của ai đó thành công

  • I think I've just sunk my chances of getting the job.

    Tôi nghĩ tôi vừa đánh mất cơ hội nhận được công việc của mình.

  • If the car breaks down, we'll be sunk (= have serious problems).

    Nếu xe bị hỏng, chúng ta sẽ bị chìm (= gặp vấn đề nghiêm trọng).

Example of vocabulary sinkball

meaning

to hit a ball into a hole in golf or snooker

đánh một quả bóng vào lỗ trong môn đánh gôn hoặc bi da

  • He sank a 12-foot putt to win the match.

    Anh ấy thực hiện cú putt dài 12 foot để giành chiến thắng trong trận đấu.

Example of vocabulary sinkalcohol

meaning

to drink something quickly, especially a large amount of alcohol

uống cái gì đó một cách nhanh chóng, đặc biệt là một lượng lớn rượu

  • They sank three pints each in 10 minutes.

    Họ đánh chìm ba panh mỗi người trong 10 phút.

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary sink

Idioms of vocabulary sink

be sunk in something
to be in a state of unhappiness or deep thought
  • She just sat there, sunk in thought.
    • (like rats) deserting/leaving a sinking ship
    (humorous, disapproving)used to talk about people who leave an organization, a company, etc. that is having difficulties, without caring about the people who are left
    somebody’s heart sinks
    used to say that somebody suddenly feels sad or depressed about something
  • My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left.
  • She watched him go with a sinking heart.
    • sink your differences
    to agree to forget about your disagreements
  • We need to sink our differences and present a united opposition to the plan.
    • a/that sinking feeling
    (informal)an unpleasant feeling that you get when you realize that something bad has happened or is going to happen
  • I had a horrible sinking feeling when I saw the ambulance outside the house.
    • sink or swim
    to be in a situation where you will either succeed by your own efforts or fail completely
  • The new students were just left to sink or swim.
  • In a situation like this, you either sink or swim.
    • sink so low | sink to something
    to have such low moral standards that you do something very bad
  • Stealing from your friends? How could you sink so low?
  • I can't believe that anyone would sink to such depths.
  • With this article the newspaper has sunk to a new low.
    • sink/stoop to a new/an all-time low
    to behave in a worse way than ever before
  • The government has stooped to an all-time low with this policy.
  • Reality TV has sunk to new lows.

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