tipple
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
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a device that tilts or overturns a freight car to dump its contents.
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a place where loaded cars are emptied by tipping.
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Mining. a structure where coal is cleaned and loaded in railroad cars or trucks.
noun
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a device for overturning ore trucks, mine cars, etc, so that they discharge their load
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a place at which such trucks are tipped and unloaded
verb
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have tippledperfect
-
has tippledperfect 3rd person singular
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am tipplingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been tipplingperfect progressive
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are tipplingprogressive
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is tipplingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been tipplingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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tipplessingular 3rd person
-
tipplingparticiple
Past
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had tippledperfect
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had been tipplingperfect progressive
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was tipplingprogressive singular
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were tipplingprogressive plural
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tippledsimple
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tippledparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of tipple1
1490–1500; back formation from Middle English tipeler tapster, equivalent to tipel- tap 2 (cognate with Dutch tepel teat) + -er -er 1; cf. tipsy
Origin of tipple2
1875–80, noun use of dial. tipple to tumble, frequentative of tip 2; see -le
Explanation
Use the verb tipple when you want to show that someone drinks moderately but regularly. During Prohibition in the 1920s it was illegal to tipple but today you can tipple almost anywhere — as long as you are 21. As a noun, a tipple is an alcoholic drink. Your usual tipple may be a glass of wine with dinner, but at a summer barbecue your tipple may be beer. From tipple we also get the noun tippler — a person who drinks regularly but moderately. Experts aren't sure where the word tipple comes from, but it may be from a Norwegian word, tipla, which means to drink slowly.
Vocabulary lists containing tipple
Antony and Cleopatra
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2
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2014 Vocabulary Video Contest (M-Z)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While you’re away, pinpoint at least one delicacy that will transport your guests to your vacation destination, preferably accompanied by a traditional tipple.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
The Queen also revealed that the Vesper Martini, which was invented by author Ian Fleming as James Bond's drink of choice, was a favourite tipple of the "much missed" Dame Jilly.
From BBC • Oct. 11, 2025
“The tipple of Hong Kong,” according to Hahn.
From Salon • Jul. 12, 2025
To paraphrase F. Scott Fitzgerald, I guess the rich drink different from you and me — and Sacramento is helping them tipple it up.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2024
“There’s glass at the tipple carpentry shop. I’ll get McDuff to cut us a pane.”
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
