sip

¹ American  

[sip] / sɪp /

verb (used with object)

sipped, sipping

1. to drink (a liquid) a little at a time; take small tastes of.

   He sipped the hot tea noisily.

2. to drink from a little at a time.

   The bird sipped the flower.

3. to take in; absorb.

   to sip knowledge at its source.

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verb (used without object)

sipped, sipping

1. to drink by sips.

noun

1. an instance of sipping; a small taste of a liquid.

   One sip told me that the milk was sour.

2. a small quantity taken by sipping.

   Take just a sip, not a gulp or a swallow.

SIP ² American  

1. supplemental income plan.

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sip British  

/ sɪp /

verb

1. to drink (a liquid) by taking small mouthfuls; drink gingerly or delicately

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noun

1. a small quantity of a liquid taken into the mouth and swallowed

2. an act of sipping

Related Words

See drink.

Other Word Forms

• sipper noun
• sippingly adverb
• unsipped adjective

Etymology

Origin of sip

1350–1400; Middle English sippen (v.), akin to Low German sippen to sip

Example Sentences

I start with some low-demand tasks, like catching up on email or paperwork, while I’m still sipping my coffee.

From The Wall Street Journal

I ladled some onion soup into a bowl and sipped.

From Literature

She sips tea throughout the interview in an effort to protect her voice, which is "really delicate" - not from the concerts, but because "I've been talking too much to my friends".

From BBC

Veteran coach Michael Boehle, sipping coffee, understands the routine is only temporary and does his best to get his players focused on their early morning routine.

From Los Angeles Times

Selkie sat on one side and worried, and Fred sat on the other side and slept, and Nim sipped her water and dreamed in the middle.

From Literature

Related Words

• imbibe
• quaff
• savor