tip

[ tip ]

/ tɪp /

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See synonyms for: tip / tipped / tipping / tips on Thesaurus.com

noun

a slender or pointed end or extremity, especially of anything long or tapered: the tips of the fingers.

the top, summit, or apex: the tip of the mountain.

a small piece or part, as of metal or leather, forming or covering the extremity of something: a cane with a rubber tip.

Also called tip-in

[tip-in], /ˈtɪpˌɪn/, tip-on

[tip-on, -awn] /ˈtɪpˌɒn, -ˌɔn/ . an insert, as an illustration, map, or errata slip, pasted to a page of a book, magazine, etc., usually along the binding margin.

a small, delicate tool made of fine hair cemented between two cards, for applying gold leaf.

verb (used with object), tipped, tip·ping.

to furnish with a tip.

to serve as or form the tip of.

to mark or adorn the tip of.

to remove the tip or stem of (berries or certain fruits or vegetables).

to frost the ends of (hair strands): I'm having my hair cut and tipped tomorrow.

Verb Phrases

tip in, Bookbinding. to paste the inner margin of (a map, illustration, or other plate) into a signature before gathering.

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Origin of tip

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; compare Dutch, Low German, Danish tip, Swedish tipp, German zipf- in Zipfel “tip”

OTHER WORDS FROM tip

tipless, adjective

Other definitions for tip (2 of 4)

tip²

[ tip ]

/ tɪp /

verb (used with object), tipped, tip·ping.

to cause to assume a slanting or sloping position; incline; tilt.

to overturn, upset, or overthrow (often followed by over).

to remove or lift (one's hat or cap) in salutation.

British. to empty out (contents) from a container by tilting; dump: The dustmen tipped the rubbish on the municipal dump.Tip the batter into a rectangular baking dish.

verb (used without object), tipped, tip·ping.

to assume a slanting or sloping position; incline.

to tilt up at one end and down at the other; slant.

to be overturned or upset: The car tipped into the ditch.

to tumble or topple (usually followed by over): The lamp on the table tipped over.

noun

the act of tipping.

the state of being tipped.

British.

a dump for refuse, as that from a mine.
Informal. an untidy place, especially a room: They must have packed and left in a rush, because the place is an absolute tip.

Origin of tip

First recorded in 1300–50; earlier tipen,Middle English typen “to upset, overturn”

OTHER WORDS FROM tip

tip·pa·ble, adjectiveun·tip·pa·ble, adjective

Other definitions for tip (3 of 4)

tip³

[ tip ]

/ tɪp /

noun

a small present of money given directly to someone for performing a service or menial task; gratuity: He gave the waiter a dollar as a tip.

a piece of private or secret information, as for use in betting, speculating, or writing a news story: a tip from a bookie.

a useful hint or idea; a basic, practical fact: tips on painting.

verb (used with object), tipped, tip·ping.

to give a gratuity to.

verb (used without object), tipped, tip·ping.

to give a gratuity: She tipped lavishly.

Verb Phrases

tip off, Informal.

to supply with private or secret information; inform.
to warn of impending danger or trouble; caution beforehand: The moonshiners had been tipped off that they were about to be raided.

OTHER WORDS FOR tip

3 suggestion, pointer.

See synonyms for tip on Thesaurus.com

Origin of tip

First recorded in 1600–10; perhaps special use of tip⁴

OTHER WORDS FROM tip

tipless, adjectivetip·pa·ble, adjective

Other definitions for tip (4 of 4)

tip⁴

[ tip ]

/ tɪp /

noun

a light, smart blow; tap.

Baseball. a batted ball that glances off the bat.Compare foul tip.

verb (used with object), tipped, tip·ping.

to strike or hit with a light, smart blow; tap.

Baseball. to strike (the ball) with a glancing blow.

Origin of tip

⁴

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English (noun); perhaps from Low German; compare German tippen “to tap,” from Low German

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tip in a sentence

Yet people who are on the fence about whether Muslims can be trusted could tip over into believing that they can't.
The Collateral Damage to Muslims|Reihan Salam|November 6, 2009|DAILY BEAST
If the chair is light and apt to tip over, make the rods long-enough to reach to the floor.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
But the great event was the tip over—not an ordinary upset, but a complete revolution of the carriage.
Mary and I|Stephen Return Riggs
Now the man can bake his gingerbread if he wants to, and the stove won't tip over.
Dotty Dimple's Flyaway|Sophie May

Sit down, or you'll tip over, and then you'll be drowned, and we can't get you.
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Camp Rest-A-While|Laura Lee Hope
Adam passed an appraising finger tip over his brown cheek; he stirred up fresh lather.
Stepsons of Light|Eugene Manlove Rhodes

British Dictionary definitions for tip (1 of 4)

tip¹

/ (tɪp) /

noun

the extreme end of something, esp a narrow or pointed end

the top or summit

a small piece forming an extremity or enda metal tip on a cane

verb tips, tipping or tipped (tr)

to adorn or mark the tip of

to cause to form a tip

Derived forms of tip

tipless, adjective

Word Origin for tip

C15: from Old Norse typpa; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch tip

British Dictionary definitions for tip (2 of 4)

tip²

/ (tɪp) /

verb tips, tipping or tipped

to tilt or cause to tilt

(usually foll by over or up) to tilt or cause to tilt, so as to overturn or fall

British to dump (rubbish, etc)

tip one's hat to take off, raise, or touch one's hat in salutation

noun

the act of tipping or the state of being tipped

British a dump for refuse, etc

Derived forms of tip

tippable, adjective

Word Origin for tip

C14: of uncertain origin; related to top 1, topple

British Dictionary definitions for tip (3 of 4)

tip³

/ (tɪp) /

noun

a payment given for services in excess of the standard charge; gratuity

a helpful hint, warning, or other piece of information

a piece of inside information, esp in betting or investing

verb tips, tipping or tipped

to give a tip to (a person)

Word Origin for tip

C18: perhaps from tip 4

British Dictionary definitions for tip (4 of 4)

tip⁴

/ (tɪp) /

verb tips, tipping or tipped (tr)

to hit or strike lightly

to hit (a ball) indirectly so that it glances off the bat in cricket

noun

a light blow

a glancing hit in cricket

Word Origin for tip

C13: perhaps from Low German tippen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with tip

tip

In addition to the idioms beginning with tip

tip off
tip of the iceberg
tip one's hand
tip the balance

also see:

from head (tip) to toe
on the tip of one's tongue

tip

Origin of tip

OTHER WORDS FROM tip

Other definitions for tip (2 of 4)

Origin of tip

OTHER WORDS FROM tip

Other definitions for tip (3 of 4)

OTHER WORDS FOR tip

Origin of tip

OTHER WORDS FROM tip

Other definitions for tip (4 of 4)

Origin of tip

Words related to tip

How to use tip in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tip (1 of 4)

Derived forms of tip

Word Origin for tip

British Dictionary definitions for tip (2 of 4)

Derived forms of tip

Word Origin for tip

British Dictionary definitions for tip (3 of 4)

Word Origin for tip

British Dictionary definitions for tip (4 of 4)

Word Origin for tip

Other Idioms and Phrases with tip