dipping

v. putting something quickly into a liquid and then taking it out again.

v. the act of briefly immersing an object into a liquid, often for coating, cleaning, or flavoring.

“She was dipping her strawberries into melted chocolate for dessert.”

“The artisan was dipping the hand-spun yarn into the indigo vat, ensuring the dye saturated the fibers evenly.”

v. going down to a lower level for a short time.

v. experiencing a temporary decline in level, value, or intensity.

“The sun was dipping below the horizon as we finished our walk.”

“Temperatures are dipping tonight, so the farmers are taking precautions to protect their sensitive crops from the frost.”

n. the act of putting something into a liquid for a moment.

n. the process or act of immersing something briefly in a liquid substance.

“The metal parts require a quick dipping in acid to remove the rust.”

“The industrial process involves the repeated dipping of the ceramic molds into a liquid slurry to build up the required thickness.”

n. using a type of tobacco that you put between your lip and gum.

n. the practice of consuming moist snuff by placing it between the lip and the gingiva.

“He picked up the habit of dipping while working on the farm.”

“Public health officials have noted a rise in dipping among certain rural demographics despite the known risks of oral cancer.”

American English · Informal

n. failing to see a specific bird that you went to look for.

n. the act or instance of failing to observe a specific rare bird that has been reported in a particular location.

“After driving for three hours, dipping on the rare owl was very disappointing.”

“The twitcher was gutted after dipping on the Siberian thrush, which had apparently flown off just minutes before his arrival.”

Informal · British English · Dialect