# sip

Pronunciation: US say "SIP" /sɪp/; UK

## Noun

1. A small mouthful of a drink, taken in one swallow.
   - Simple: A small amount of drink taken into your mouth at one time.
   - _He paused for a sip of coffee between sentences._
   - _Just one sip of the wine told her it had gone bad._
6. A social gathering at which people drink alcohol in small, usually sub-intoxicating amounts.
   - Simple: A social event where people drink small amounts of alcohol.
   - _The winery invited members to a monthly sip in the cellar._
   - _Their fundraiser was billed as a quiet sip rather than a party._

## Verb

2. To drink something slowly, a small mouthful at a time.
   - Simple: To drink something slowly, taking only a little at a time.
   - _They sip their cocktails and watch the sunset._
   - _She sipped the broth slowly to savor the flavor._
3. To drink a small quantity, taking little at a time.
   - Simple: To drink only a little at a time.
   - _They sipped quietly while the speaker droned on._
   - _Guests are welcome to sip and chat in the lounge._
4. To consume something slowly, a little at a time.
   - Simple: To use or take in something slowly, a little at a time.
   - _The device sips power, so the battery lasts for days._
   - _Efficient burners sip fuel even under heavy load._
5. To taste the contents of a vessel; to drink from a cup or glass.
   - Simple: To drink a little from a cup or glass.
   - _He sipped the chalice before passing it on._
   - _They sip the shared bowl as part of the ceremony._

## Verb

7. Alternative form of seep. Dated and regional. *(dated, Scotland, US)* — Alternative form of seep.
   - Simple: Another way of writing seep, for liquid moving slowly through small openings. This spelling is old and rare.

## Origin

Inherited from Middle English sippen, of uncertain origin. It may come from a variant of Middle English suppen ("to drink, sip"), or perhaps from Old English sipian, sypian ("to take in moisture, soak"), from Proto-Germanic *sipōną ("to drip, trickle") and ultimately Proto-Indo-European *seyb- ("to pour out, trickle, leak out").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/sip (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).