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sinking

   Also found in: Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
sink  (sngk)
v. sank (sngk) or sunk (sngk), sunk, sink·ing, sinks
v.intr.
1. To descend to the bottom; submerge.
2.
a. To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages: The water in the lake sank several feet during the long, dry summer.
b. To subside or settle gradually, as a massive or weighty structure.
3. To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting.
4. To slope downward; incline.
5. To pass into a specified condition: She sank into a deep sleep.
6.
a. To deteriorate in quality or condition: The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.
b. To diminish, as in value.
7. To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful: His voice sank to a whisper.
8.
a. To drop or fall slowly, as from weakness or fatigue: The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
b. To feel great disappointment or discouragement: Her heart sank within her.
9. To seep or soak; penetrate: The water is sinking into the ground.
10. To make an impression; become felt or understood: The meaning finally sank in.
v.tr.
1. To cause to descend beneath a surface: sink a ship.
2. To cause to drop or lower: sank the bucket into the well.
3. To force into the ground: sink a piling.
4. To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth.
5. To occupy the full attention of; engross.
6.
a. To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful.
b. To reduce in quantity or worth.
7. To debase the nature of; degrade.
8. To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy.
9. To suppress or hide: He sank his arrogance and apologized.
10. Informal To defeat, as in a game.
11.
a. To invest: sink money into a new housing project.
b. To invest without any prospect of return.
12. To pay off (a debt).
13. Sports To get (a ball) into a hole or basket.
n.
1. A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water.
2. A cesspool.
3. A sinkhole.
4. A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system.
5. A place regarded as wicked and corrupt.
Idiom:
sink or swim Informal
To fail or succeed without alternative.

[Middle English sinken, from Old English sincan.]

sinka·ble adj.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.sinkingsinking - a descent as through liquid (especially through water); "they still talk about the sinking of the Titanic"
settling, subsiding, subsidence - a gradual sinking to a lower level
descent - a movement downward
immersion, submergence, submerging, submersion - sinking until covered completely with water
foundering, going under - (of a ship) sinking
2.sinking - a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength); "after several hours of sinking an unexpected rally rescued the market"; "he could not control the sinking of his legs"
decrease, lessening, drop-off - a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
3.sinking - a feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension; "with a sinking heart"; "a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach"
anxiety - a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune
Translations
sinking [ˈsɪŋkɪŋ] adj that sinking feeling → la sensación esa de desmoralización
sinking [ˈsɪŋkɪŋ] n (of ship) → Untergang m: (deliberate) → Versenkung f
adj sinking feeling → flaues Gefühl nt (im Magen)
sinking [ˈsɪŋkɪŋ] adj that sinking feeling → una stretta allo stomaco


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He laid down the seven of hearts, on which with a broken bit of chalk he had written "800 rubles" in clear upright figures; he emptied the glass of warm champagne that was handed him, smiled at Dolokhov's words, and with a sinking heart, waiting for a seven to turn up, gazed at Dolokhov's hands which held the pack.
But a very great tempest came on, and the ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all his merchandise overboard, and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship.
He did carry them out faithfully, although Raffles was incessantly asking for brandy, and declaring that he was sinking away-- that the earth was sinking away from under him.
 
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