Sink (sĭṉk), v. i. [imp.Sunk (sŭṉk), or (Sank (săṉk)); p. p.Sunk (obs.Sunken, — now used as adj.); p. pr. & vb. n.Sinking.] [OE. sinken, AS. sincan; akin to D. zinken, OS. sincan, G. sinken, Icel. sökkva, Dan. synke, Sw. sjunka, Goth. siggan, and probably to E. silt. Cf. Silt.] 1. To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west.
I sink in deep mire. Ps. lxix. 2.
2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate.
The stone sunk into his forehead. 1 San. xvii. 49.
3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Luke ix. 44.
4. To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak.
He sunk down in his chariot. 2 Kings ix. 24.
Let not the fire sink or slacken. Mortimer.
5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.
The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. Addison.
Syn. — To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay; decrease; lessen.