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Sail vs. Sink — What's the Difference?

Sail vs. Sink — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Sail and Sink

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Sail

A sail is a tensile structure—made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may be made from a combination of woven materials—including canvas or polyester cloth, laminated membranes or bonded filaments—usually in a three- or four-sided shape.

Sink

A sink – also known by other names including sinker, washbowl, hand basin, wash basin, and simply basin – is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have taps (faucets) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing.

Sail

A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship or other vessel
All the sails were unfurled
The boat can no longer carry that area of sail

Sink

Go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid; become submerged
He saw the coffin sink below the surface of the waves

Sail

A wind-catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill.
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Sink

Descend from a higher to a lower position; drop downwards
You can relax on the veranda as the sun sinks low

Sail

A voyage or excursion in a ship, especially a sailing ship or boat
They went for a sail

Sink

Gradually decrease or decline in value, amount, quality, or intensity
Their output sank to a third of the pre-war figure

Sail

The conning tower of a submarine.

Sink

Insert beneath a surface
Rails fixed in place with screws sunk below the surface of the wood

Sail

A canvas sheet or tarpaulin
The sail covering the load of crates broke loose from the truck

Sink

Rapidly consume (an alcoholic drink)
English players sinking a few post-match lagers

Sail

Travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation
Ian took us out sailing on the lake

Sink

A fixed basin with a water supply and outflow pipe
A sink unit with cupboard and drawers under
I stood at the kitchen sink

Sail

Move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner
The ball sailed inside the right-hand post

Sink

A pool or marsh in which a river's water disappears by evaporation or percolation.

Sail

A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.

Sink

Short for sinkhole

Sail

The sails of a ship or boat.

Sink

A place of vice or corruption
A sink of unnatural vice, pride, and luxury

Sail

A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine.

Sink

To go below the surface of water or another liquid
We watched the leaky inner tube slowly sink.

Sail

Pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.

Sink

To descend to the bottom of a body of water or other liquid
Found the wreck where it had sunk.

Sail

(Nautical) A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.

Sink

To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages
The water in the lake sank several feet during the long, dry summer.

Sail

Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.

Sink

To subside or settle gradually
Cracks developed as the building sank.

Sail

To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.

Sink

To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting.

Sail

To travel by water in a vessel.

Sink

To slope downward; incline
The road sinks as it approaches the stream.

Sail

To start out on such a voyage or journey
Tomorrow we sail for the islands.

Sink

To fall or lower oneself slowly, as from weakness or fatigue
The exhausted runner sank to the ground.

Sail

To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.

Sink

To feel great disappointment or discouragement
Her heart sank within her.

Sail

To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly
Sailed into the room five minutes late.
Sailed through the exam.
Sailed through the red light.

Sink

To pass into something; penetrate
The claws sank into the flesh of the prey.

Sail

To move along through the air
The ball sailed into the stands.

Sink

To steep or soak
The wine has sunk into my shirt.

Sail

To navigate or manage (a vessel).

Sink

To pass into a specified condition
She sank into a deep sleep.

Sail

To voyage upon or across
Sail the Pacific.

Sink

To deteriorate in quality or condition
The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.

Sail

(nautical) A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.

Sink

To diminish, as in value
Gold prices are sinking.

Sail

The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.
Take in sail: a storm is coming.

Sink

To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful
His voice sank to a whisper.

Sail

(uncountable) The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use of this power for travel or transport.

Sink

To make an impression; become felt or understood
The meaning finally sank in.

Sail

A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.
Let's go for a sail.

Sink

To cause to descend beneath the surface or to the bottom of a liquid
Sink a ship.

Sail

A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
Twenty sail were in sight.

Sink

To cause to penetrate deeply
He sank his sword into the dragon's belly.

Sail

(nautical) The conning tower of a submarine.

Sink

To force into the ground
Sink a piling.

Sail

The blade of a windmill.

Sink

To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth.

Sail

A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.

Sink

To cause to drop or lower
Sank the bucket into the well.

Sail

The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.

Sink

(Sports) To propel (a ball or shot) into a hole, basket, or pocket.

Sail

(fishing) A sailfish.
We caught three sails today.

Sink

To cause to be engrossed
"Frank sank himself in another book" (Patricia Highsmith).

Sail

(paleontology) an outward projection of the spine, occurring in certain dinosaurs and synapsids

Sink

To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful
She sank her voice when the manager walked by.

Sail

Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.

Sink

To reduce in quantity or worth
The bad news will sink markets around the world.

Sail

To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.

Sink

To debase the nature of; degrade
The scandal has sunk him in the eyes of many.

Sail

To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.

Sink

To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy
Loss of advertising sank the newspaper.

Sail

To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.

Sink

To suppress or hide
He sank his arrogance and apologized.

Sail

(intransitive) To set sail; to begin a voyage.
We sail for Australia tomorrow.

Sink

(Informal) To defeat, as in a game.

Sail

To move briskly and gracefully through the air.

Sink

To invest or spend, often without getting a return or adequate value
I've sunk a lot of money into that car.

Sail

(intransitive) To move briskly but sedately.
The duchess sailed haughtily out of the room.

Sink

To pay off (a debt).

Sail

To deal out (cards) from a distance by impelling them across a surface.

Sink

A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water.

Sail

An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.
Behoves him now both sail and oar.

Sink

A cesspool.

Sail

Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.

Sink

A sinkhole.

Sail

A wing; a van.
Like an eagle soaringTo weather his broad sails.

Sink

A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system.

Sail

The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.

Sink

A place regarded as wicked and corrupt
That city is a sink of corruption.

Sail

A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.

Sink

To move or be moved into something.

Sail

A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water.

Sink

(ergative) To descend or submerge (or to cause to do so) into a liquid or similar substance.
A stone sinks in water.
The sun gradually sank in the west.

Sail

To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of steam or other power.

Sink

(transitive) To (directly or indirectly) cause a vessel to sink, generally by making it no longer watertight.
An iceberg sank the Titanic.
British battleships sank the Bismarck.

Sail

To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl.

Sink

(transitive) To push (something) into something.
The joint will hold tighter if you sink a wood screw through both boards.
The dog sank its teeth into the delivery man's leg.

Sail

To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton.

Sink

(transitive) To make by digging or delving.
To sink a well in the ground

Sail

To set sail; to begin a voyage.

Sink

To pot; hit a ball into a pocket or hole.

Sail

To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.
As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . .When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds,And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Sink

To diminish or be diminished.

Sail

To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force.
A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.

Sink

To experience apprehension, disappointment, dread, or momentary depression.

Sail

To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.
Sublime she sailsThe aërial space, and mounts the wingèd gales.

Sink

To cause to decline; to depress or degrade.
To sink one's reputation

Sail

To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship.

Sink

(intransitive) To demean or lower oneself; to do something below one's status, standards, or morals.

Sail

A large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

Sink

To conceal and appropriate.

Sail

An ocean trip taken for pleasure

Sink

To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore.

Sail

Traverse or travel by ship on (a body of water);
We sailed the Atlantic
He sailed the Pacific all alone

Sink

To drink (especially something alcoholic).

Sail

Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky

Sink

To pay absolutely.
I have sunk thousands of pounds into this project.

Sail

Travel in a boat propelled by wind;
I love sailing, especially on the open sea

Sink

To reduce or extinguish by payment.
To sink the national debt

Sail

Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;
The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow

Sink

(intransitive) To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fail in strength.

Sink

To die.

Sink

(intransitive) To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.

Sink

A basin used for holding water for washing.

Sink

A drain for carrying off wastewater.

Sink

(geology) A sinkhole.

Sink

A depression in land where water collects, with no visible outlet.

Sink

A heat sink.

Sink

A place that absorbs resources or energy.

Sink

(ecology) A habitat that cannot support a population on its own but receives the excess of individuals from some other source.

Sink

(uncountable) Descending motion; descent.
An excessive sink rate at touchdown can cause the aircraft's landing gear to collapse.

Sink

(baseball) The motion of a sinker pitch.
Jones has a two-seamer with heavy sink.

Sink

An object or callback that captures events; an event sink.

Sink

(graph theory) A destination vertex in a transportation network.

Sink

An abode of degraded persons; a wretched place.

Sink

A depression in a stereotype plate.

Sink

(theater) A stage trapdoor for shifting scenery.

Sink

(mining) An excavation smaller than a shaft.

Sink

(game development) One or several systems that remove currency from the game's economy, thus controlling or preventing inflation.

Sink

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.

Sink

To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate.
The stone sunk into his forehead.

Sink

Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears.

Sink

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.
He sunk down in his chariot.
Let not the fire sink or slacken.

Sink

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.

Sink

To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a fluid; as, to sink a ship.
[The Athenians] fell upon the wings and sank a single ship.

Sink

Figuratively: To cause to decline; to depress; to degrade; hence, to ruin irretrievably; to destroy, as by drowping; as, to sink one's reputation.
I raise of sink, imprison or set free.
If I have a conscience, let it sink me.
Thy cruel and unnatural lust of powerHas sunk thy father more than all his years.

Sink

To make (a depression) by digging, delving, or cutting, etc.; as, to sink a pit or a well; to sink a die.

Sink

To bring low; to reduce in quantity; to waste.
You sunk the river repeated draughts.

Sink

To conseal and appropriate.
If sent with ready money to buy anything, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account.

Sink

To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore.
A courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths.

Sink

To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.

Sink

A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.

Sink

A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen.

Sink

A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; - called also sink hole.

Sink

The lowest part of a natural hollow or closed basin whence the water of one or more streams escapes by evaporation; as, the sink of the Humboldt River.

Sink

Plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe

Sink

(technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system;
The ocean is a sink for carbon dioxide

Sink

A depression in the ground communicating with a subterranean passage (especially in limestone) and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof

Sink

A covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it

Sink

Fall or drop to a lower place or level;
He sank to his knees

Sink

Cause to sink;
The Japanese sank American ships in Pearl Harbor

Sink

Pass into a specified state or condition;
He sank into Nirvana

Sink

Go under,
The raft sank and its occupants drowned

Sink

Descend into or as if into some soft substance or place;
He sank into bed
She subsided into the chair

Sink

Appear to move downward;
The sun dipped below the horizon
The setting sun sank below the tree line

Sink

Fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly;
The real estate market fell off

Sink

Fall or sink heavily;
He slumped onto the couch
My spirits sank

Sink

Embed deeply;
She sank her fingers into the soft sand
He buried his head in her lap

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