sinks
sinks — noun
- sinkssingular
- sinksesplural
1. a bowl-shaped fixture connected to water pipes and set into a wall where people
a bowl-shaped fixture connected to water pipes and set into a wall where people clean dishes or wash their hands
Soraya put the breakfast plates in the sink and ran hot water over them.
the sink — definite article for specific fixture
Andrés scrubbed the kitchen sink with a sponge after the dinner guests left.
collocation: kitchen sink / bathroom sink
Noor noticed a small crack near the drain of the old bathroom sink.
Brooke filled the bathroom sink with warm water to wash her face.
文法句型
the sink
a sink
用法筆記
Often modified by the room name: kitchen sink, bathroom sink. A laundry sink is a larger, deeper version used in utility rooms.
常見錯誤
2. a hollow area in the landscape where the earth has collapsed or water naturally
a hollow area in the landscape where the earth has collapsed or water naturally gathers, often formed by erosion or dissolving rock beneath the surface
Water from the heavy storm drained into a natural sink in the field.
collocation: natural sink
The hikers found a large sink where the ground had caved in after the earthquake.
Farmers worried when a sink opened near their wheat fields last spring.
After the spring thaw, the natural sink behind the barn filled with rainwater.
文法句型
a sink
the sink
用法筆記
Frequently appears with modifiers like natural sink, limestone sink, or simply sinkhole. In formal geology, sink is used interchangeably with sinkhole or doline.
sinks — verb
- sinkspresent simple I / you / we / they
- sinkses3rd person singular
- sinksing-ing form
- sinksedpast simple
1. to move downward through water, mud, or other fluid material until going below t
to move downward through water, mud, or other fluid material until going below the surface — for example, a stone dropping to the bottom of a lake, or someone gradually going down into deep snow
The wooden boat began to sink after hitting a sharp rock near the shore.
intransitive: boat + sink
Selim watched the ice cubes sink slowly in his glass of iced tea.
Minh's boots sank deep into the mud behind the old red barn.
The sun sank below the ocean horizon at exactly seven that evening.
文法句型
sink + adverb/preposition
sink + object + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
When used intransitively, the subject is what goes down (The ship sank). When transitive, someone causes the descent (They sank the ship). Distinguish from sense 2 (FALL TO LOWER STATE) which involves a drop in level, position, or condition rather than immersion in a substance.
常見錯誤
2. to drop to a lower position, amount, or physical level, or to gradually move int
to drop to a lower position, amount, or physical level, or to gradually move into a particular condition — for example, prices sinking, someone sinking into a chair, or spirits sinking with bad news
Tech shares sank by twelve percent after the company missed its sales targets.
intransitive: prices/numbers + sink
Eli sank into the old armchair after a very long day at work.
sink into + furniture for relaxing
Temperatures in Sapporo sank to minus eight during the cold January nights.
Brooke's voice sank to a whisper so nobody else could hear her.
Zuri's heart sank when she saw the long queue at the ticket counter.
文法句型
sink + adverb/preposition
sink + noun + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Frequently used with into to describe settling into a position (sink into a chair) or a state (sink into depression). The figurative use heart sank describes a sudden feeling of disappointment. Distinguish from sense 1 (GO BELOW SURFACE) which involves immersion in a substance.
常見錯誤
3. to successfully strike or send a ball with a club, cue, or hand so that it goes
to successfully strike or send a ball with a club, cue, or hand so that it goes into a hole, pocket, or basket in ball games that use a target area
Mathieu sank a long putt to win the golf tournament on Sunday.
golf: sink a putt
Imran sank the final shot from beyond the three-point line.
basketball: sink a shot
Owen sank the black ball into the corner pocket to win the match.
Baraka sank two free throws in the last minute of the game.
文法句型
sink + object (ball) + in/into + hole/pocket
用法筆記
Used across multiple ball sports, each with its own collocation: sink a putt (golf), sink a basket/shot (basketball), sink a ball (snooker/pool/billiards). The object is always the ball or a type of shot.
常見錯誤
4. to bore an opening in the earth or to place something firmly into the ground so
to bore an opening in the earth or to place something firmly into the ground so that it stays in position — for example, sinking a well for water or driving posts into the soil for a fence
Workers sank a deep well behind the school to provide drinking water.
sink a well — fixed collocation
Mateo sank fence posts into the ground along the edge of the garden.
sink + object + into + ground
The road crew sank metal posts into the ground along the new highway route.
Quinn sank a wooden fence post into the hole and packed soil around it.
- dig
more general; dig focuses on the action of removing earth, while sink often implies reaching a specific depth or placing something
- embed
to fix something firmly in a surrounding mass, more formal and not specific to ground
- bury
to cover completely with earth, whereas sink usually means placing only part of an object into the ground
文法句型
sink + object + into + ground
用法筆記
The most common objects are well, post, pipe, foundation, and pile. When referring to digging, the object is the hole itself (sink a shaft). When placing, the object is what goes into the ground (sink a post).
常見錯誤
5. to ruin a plan, business, project, or person's chances, especially by causing fi
to ruin a plan, business, project, or person's chances, especially by causing financial loss or serious damage to their reputation
The scandal sank the senator's chances of winning the election.
sink + chances — common figurative use
High operating costs sank the restaurant within six months of opening.
Imran's bad investment sank his entire retirement savings fund.
The new evidence sank the prosecutor's case against the suspect completely.
文法句型
sink + object (business/project/plan/chances)
用法筆記
The subject is typically a negative event, cost, or discovery. The object is a plan, business, career, or reputation. Not used for physical destruction — that is sense 1 or 4.