- Dictionary
sink
A noun is a word that refers to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., femme, chat, maison).
1. (fixture)
a. le lavabo (M) (in the bathroom)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. French nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la dame or la lune) or masculine (like l'homme or le soleil).
I cleaned the sink and the bathtub.J’ai nettoyé le lavabo et la baignoire.
b. l'évier (M) (in the kitchen)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. French nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la dame or la lune) or masculine (like l'homme or le soleil).
Leave the dirty dishes in the sink.Laisse la vaisselle sale dans l’évier.
2. (geology)
a. la doline (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. French nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la dame or la lune) or masculine (like l'homme or le soleil).
This region is known for its many sinks and underground caves.Cette région est connue pour ses nombreuses dolines et grottes souterraines.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., acheter).
4. (figurative) (to ruin)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
a. couler (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
The former CEO is accused of deliberately sinking his own company.L’ancien PDG est accusé d’avoir volontairement coulé sa propre entreprise.
b. faire échouer (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
The army sank the coup d'état.L’armée a fait échouer le coup d’État.
5. (to dig)
a. creuser
The workers sank a tunnel into the mountain that connects both cities.Les ouvriers ont creusé un tunnel dans la montagne pour relier les deux villes.
a. enfoncer
Ian sank the stake deep into the ground.Ian a enfoncé le pieu profondément dans la terre.
7. (to invest)
a. investir
My parents are sinking a lot of money into my education.Mes parents investissent beaucoup d’argent dans mes études.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., éternuer.).
b. sombrer (for a boat)
When the weather gets rough, boats can sink quickly.Quand le temps se gâte, les bateaux peuvent vite sombrer.
10. (to decrease)
a. chuter (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
The company's profits are sinking.Les bénéfices de l’entreprise chutent.
b. baisser
The temperature continues to sink as winter approaches.La température continue de baisser à l’approche de l’hiver.
11. (geology)
a. s'affaisser
We're afraid the ground under the garage may sink.Nous craignons que le sol sous le garage ne s'affaisse.
a. s'enfoncer
As soon as she stepped outside, Ellie sank knee deep into the snow.À peine avait-elle mis le pied dehors qu'Ellie s'est enfoncée jusqu'aux genoux dans la neige.
13. (to slump)
a. s'affaler (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
I sank into the first seat I saw.Je me suis affalé sur le premier siège que j’ai vu.
b. s'écrouler (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Carter was so tired that he sank onto his bed as soon as he got home.Carter était tellement fatigué qu'il s'est écroulé sur son lit dès qu'il est rentré chez lui.
Conjugations
Indicative of "sink"
Collins English Verb Conjugation Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2023
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