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dunk

v. · n.
US //ˈdəŋk// UK //dˈʌŋk// dunk
  1. 1 to dip in liquid (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to dip something, like a biscuit or bread, into a liquid for a short time.

    to submerge an object briefly in a liquid, typically food into a beverage.

    Example

    He liked to dunk his ginger biscuits into his tea until they were soft.

    Example

    The tradition of dunking biscotti into dessert wine is common in many regions of Italy to soften the hard texture of the almond biscuits.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'into' or 'in'.
  2. 2 basketball (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    to jump high and push the ball down through the hoop with one or both hands.

    to leap high enough to forcefully thrust the ball directly downward through the basket.

    Example

    The crowd cheered when the star player managed to dunk the ball over the defender.

    Example

    The forward's ability to dunk with either hand makes him a formidable offensive threat during fast breaks.

    Usage

    Can be used transitively with 'the ball' or intransitively.
    • slam dunk
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  1. 3 to mock online (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang Computing

    to criticize or make fun of someone's post on social media in a clever way.

    to decisively defeat or humiliate an opponent in a public forum, particularly on social media.

    Example

    Everyone started to dunk on him after he posted that embarrassing photo.

    Example

    The politician's poorly researched tweet led to thousands of users dunking on him within minutes of the post going live.

    Usage

    Almost always used with the preposition 'on'.
  2. 4 basketball shot (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a shot in basketball where the player jumps and pushes the ball down through the hoop.

    a high-percentage shot in basketball performed by jumping and powering the ball through the rim.

    Example

    His powerful dunk at the end of the game secured the victory for the team.

    Example

    The highlight reel featured a spectacular 360-degree dunk that left the commentators speechless.
Origin

From Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn (“to dip, submerge, dunk”), from Proto-West Germanic þunkōn (“to make wet”), possibly from Proto-Germanic þunkōną, from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to moisten, wet”). Cognate with German tunken (“to dunk”), Latin tingō (“to wet, moisten”), Ancient Greek τέγγω (téngō, “to wet, moisten”). Related to taint, tincture, tint.

Idioms1 entry

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