Topic: AGRICULTURE
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | dyppan |
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dip1
past tense and past participle dipped, present participle dipping
past tense and past participle dipped, present participle dipping1 to put something into a liquid and lift it out again
put something in liquid
[transitive] dip something in/into something He dipped his hand in the water. Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate.
He dipped his hand in the water.Dip the strawberries into melted chocolate.2 to move down, or to make something move down, usually for just a short time :
move down
[intransitive and transitive]3 if an amount or level dips, it becomes less, usually for just a short time [= fall]: Profits dipped slightly last year. Temperatures dipped to -10°C last night.
become less
[intransitive]Profits dipped slightly last year.Temperatures dipped to -10°C last night.4 if land or a road or path dips, it slopes down and then goes up again
road/path
[countable]5 to lower the angle of the front lights of your car when someone is driving towards you
dip your headlights/lights
British EnglishTTC6 to put animals in a chemical that kills insects on their skin
animals
[transitive]HBATAdip into something
phrasal verb1 to read short parts of a book, magazine etc, but not the whole thing : It's the kind of book you can dip into now and again.
It's the kind of book you can dip into now and again.2 to use some of an amount of money that you have : Parents are being asked to dip into their pockets for new school books (=use their own money to pay for them).
Parents are being asked to dip into their pockets for new school books (=use their own money to pay for them).3 to put your hand into a bag or box in order to take out one of the things inside : On her lap was a bag of candy which she kept dipping into.
On her lap was a bag of candy which she kept dipping into.