English Reference
verb · noun

tipping

v. · n.
US /ˈtɪpɪŋ/ UK /tˈɪpɪŋ/ tip·ping

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.leaning something to one side or falling over by accident.

    v.the act of inclining something from a vertical position or causing it to overturn.

    Simple

    The waiter was tipping the bottle to pour the last bit of juice.

    In context

    By tipping the container at a precise angle, the chemist was able to decant the liquid without disturbing the sediment at the bottom.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.the practice of giving extra money to workers like waiters or taxi drivers to say thank you.

    n.the social custom of providing a gratuity in exchange for services rendered.

    Simple

    Tipping is expected in many restaurants in the United States.

    In context

    While tipping is customary in North American service industries, it is often considered unnecessary or even offensive in certain East Asian cultures.

    gratuity
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate British English

    n.the act of throwing away large amounts of rubbish in a specific place.

    n.the disposal of waste material, often used in the context of 'illegal tipping' or 'fly-tipping'.

    Simple

    The council is trying to stop people from tipping old furniture in the woods.

    In context

    Local authorities have increased surveillance in rural areas to combat the rise of illegal tipping on private farmland.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    n.a way of playing fast notes on a flute by moving your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

    n.a technique of articulation in flute playing involving the striking of the tongue against the palate to produce distinct, rapid notes.

    Simple

    The flute player practiced her tipping to make the fast passage sound clear.

    In context

    The piece requires mastery of double-tonguing and precise tipping to execute the staccato runs at the required tempo.

    tonguing
  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate American EnglishDialect Sport

    n.a competition where people try to guess who will win sports matches.

    n.the act of predicting the winners of sporting contests, often within an organised competition or 'tipping pool'.

    Simple

    He won the office tipping competition by correctly guessing the rugby scores.

    In context

    The local newspaper runs a weekly tipping column where experts provide their forecasts for the upcoming weekend of football.

Usage tipping point


From tip + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated