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Dip vs Drench - What's the difference?

dip | drench | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between dip and drench

is that dip is a lower section of a road or geological feature while drench is a draught administered to an animal.

As verbs the difference between dip and drench

is that dip is to lower into a liquid while drench is to soak, to make very wet.

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

    * ----

    drench

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) drenchen, from (etyl) . More at drink.

    Noun

    (es)
  • A draught administered to an animal.
  • (obsolete) A drink; a draught; specifically, a potion of medicine poured or forced down the throat; also, a potion that causes purging.
  • * Dryden
    • A drench of wine.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Give my roan horse a drench .

    Verb

  • To soak, to make very wet.
  • * Dryden
    • Now dam the ditches and the floods restrain; / Their moisture has already drenched the plain.
  • To cause to drink; especially, to dose (e.g. a horse) with medicine by force.
    • Related terms
    * drenched

    Etymology 2

    Anglo-Saxon dreng warrior, soldier, akin to Icelandic drengr.

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete, UK) A military vassal, mentioned in the Domesday Book.
    • (Burrill)