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Dip vs Dent - What's the difference?

dip | dent | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between dip and dent

is that dip is to perform (a bow or curtsey) by inclining the body while dent is to impact something, producing a dent.

In intransitive terms the difference between dip and dent

is that dip is to incline downward from the plane of the horizon while dent is to develop a dent or dents.

dip

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) dippen, from (etyl) dyppan, from (etyl) , Dutch dopen, German taufen.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A lower section of a road or geological feature.
  • There is a dip in the road ahead.
  • Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
  • The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
  • * Glover
  • the dip of oars in unison
  • A tank or trough where cattle or sheep are immersed in chemicals to kill parasites.
  • A dip stick.
  • A swim, usually a short swim to refresh.
  • I'm going for a dip before breakfast.
  • (colloquial, dated) A pickpocket.
  • * 1906 , Fred L. Boalt, " The Snitcher", McClure's Magazine v.26, p.633
  • The Moocher was a "dip " in a dilettante sort of way, and his particular graft was boarding street-cars with his papers and grabbing women's pocket-books.
  • A sauce for dipping.
  • This onion dip is just scrumptious.
  • (geology) The angle from horizontal of a planar geologic surface, such as a fault line.
  • (archaic) A dipped candle.
  • (Marryat)
    Derived terms
    * lucky dip

    Verb

    (dipp)
  • To lower into a liquid.
  • Dip your biscuit into your tea .
  • * 1897 , (Bram Stoker), (Dracula) Chapter 21
  • He dipped the end of a towel in cold water and with it began to flick him on the face, his wife all the while holding her face between her hands and sobbing in a way that was heart breaking to hear.
  • To immerse oneself; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
  • * Coleridge
  • The sun's rim dips ; the stars rush out.
  • (of a value or rate) To decrease slightly.
  • To lower a light's beam.
  • Dip your lights as you meet an oncoming car.
  • To lower (a flag), particularly a national ensign, to a partially hoisted position in order to render or to return a salute. While lowered, the flag is said to be “at the dip.” A flag being carried on a staff may be dipped by leaning it forward at an approximate angle of 45 degrees.
  • “The sailor rushed to the flag hoist to dip the flag in return.”
  • To treat cattle or sheep by immersion in chemical solution.
  • The farmer is going to dip the cattle today.
  • To use a dip stick to check oil level in an engine.
  • To consume snuff by placing a pinch behind the lip or under the tongue so that the active chemical constituents of the snuff may be absorbed into the system for their narcotic effect.
  • To immerse for baptism.
  • (Fuller)
  • * Charles Wheatly, A rational illustration of the Book of Common Prayer
  • during the reigns of King James and King Charles I, there were but very few children dipped in the font.
  • To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
  • * Milton
  • A cold shuddering dew / Dips me all o'er.
  • To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
  • * Dryden
  • He was dipt in the rebellion of the Commons.
  • To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; often with out .
  • to dip''' water from a boiler; to '''dip out water
  • To perform the action of plunging a dipper, ladle. etc. into a liquid or soft substance and removing a part.
  • * L'Estrange
  • Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot.
  • To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
  • * Dryden
  • Live on the use and never dip thy lands.
  • To perform (a bow or curtsey) by inclining the body.
  • To incline downward from the plane of the horizon.
  • Strata of rock dip .
    Derived terms
    * dipper * you don't dip your pen in company ink

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A foolish person.
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    dent

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) . More at dint.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
  • The crash produced a dent in the left side of the car.
  • (by extension, informal) A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action
  • That purchase put a bit of a dent in my wallet.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=April 11 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Andy Carroll's first goals since his £35m move to Liverpool put a dent in Manchester City's Champions League hopes as they were emphatically swept aside at Anfield.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To impact something, producing a dent.
  • To develop a dent or dents.
  • ''Copper is soft and dents easily.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl), from (etyl) dens, dentis, tooth. See tooth.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (engineering) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
  • (Knight)

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs ----