tip

¹

[ tip ]

noun

1. a slender or pointed end or extremity, especially of anything long or tapered:

   the tips of the fingers.

2. the top, summit, or apex:

   the tip of the mountain.

3. a small piece or part, as of metal or leather, forming or covering the extremity of something:

   a cane with a rubber tip.

4. Also called tip-in [tip, -in],. an insert, as an illustration, map, or errata slip, pasted to a page of a book, magazine, etc., usually along the binding margin.
5. a small, delicate tool made of fine hair cemented between two cards, for applying gold leaf.

verb (used with object)

, tipped, tip·ping.

1. to furnish with a tip.
2. to serve as or form the tip of.
3. to mark or adorn the tip of.
4. to remove the tip or stem of (berries or certain fruits or vegetables).
5. to frost the ends of (hair strands):

   I'm having my hair cut and tipped tomorrow.

verb phrase

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

tip

²

[ tip ]

verb (used with object)

, tipped, tip·ping.

1. to cause to assume a slanting or sloping position; incline; tilt.
2. to overturn, upset, or overthrow (often followed by over ).
3. to remove or lift (one's hat or cap) in salutation.
4. British. to empty out (contents) from a container by tilting; dump: Tip the batter into a rectangular baking dish.

   The dustmen tipped the rubbish on the municipal dump.

   Tip the batter into a rectangular baking dish.

verb (used without object)

, tipped, tip·ping.

1. to assume a slanting or sloping position; incline.
2. to tilt up at one end and down at the other; slant.
3. to be overturned or upset:

   The car tipped into the ditch.

4. to tumble or topple (usually followed by over ):

   The lamp on the table tipped over.

noun

1. the act of tipping.
2. the state of being tipped.
3. British.
   1. a dump for refuse, as that from a mine.
   2. Informal. an untidy place, especially a room:

      They must have packed and left in a rush, because the place is an absolute tip.

tip

³

[ tip ]

noun

1. 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.

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

   a tip from a bookie.

3. a useful hint or idea; a basic, practical fact:

   tips on painting.

   Synonyms: pointer, suggestion

verb (used with object)

, tipped, tip·ping.

1. to give a gratuity to.

verb (used without object)

, tipped, tip·ping.

1. to give a gratuity:

   She tipped lavishly.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to supply with private or secret information; inform.
   2. to warn of impending danger or trouble; caution beforehand:

      The moonshiners had been tipped off that they were about to be raided.

tip

⁴

[ tip ]

noun

1. a light, smart blow; tap.
2. Baseball. a batted ball that glances off the bat. Compare foul tip.

verb (used with object)

, tipped, tip·ping.

1. to strike or hit with a light, smart blow; tap.
2. Baseball. to strike (the ball) with a glancing blow.

tip

¹

/ tɪp /

noun

1. the extreme end of something, esp a narrow or pointed end
2. the top or summit
3. a small piece forming an extremity or end

   a metal tip on a cane

verb

1. to adorn or mark the tip of
2. to cause to form a tip

tip

²

/ tɪp /

noun

1. a payment given for services in excess of the standard charge; gratuity
2. a helpful hint, warning, or other piece of information
3. a piece of inside information, esp in betting or investing

verb

1. to give a tip to (a person)

tip

³

/ tɪp /

verb

1. to hit or strike lightly
2. to hit (a ball) indirectly so that it glances off the bat in cricket

noun

1. a light blow
2. a glancing hit in cricket

tip

⁴

/ tɪp /

verb

1. to tilt or cause to tilt
2. usually foll byover or up to tilt or cause to tilt, so as to overturn or fall
3. to dump (rubbish, etc)
4. tip one's hat
   to take off, raise, or touch one's hat in salutation

noun

1. the act of tipping or the state of being tipped
2. a dump for refuse, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈtipless, adjective
• ˈtippable, adjective

Other Words From

• tipless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tip¹

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

Origin of tip²

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

Origin of tip³

First recorded in 1600–10; perhaps special use of tip ⁴

Origin of tip⁴

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tip¹

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

Origin of tip²

C18: perhaps from tip ⁴

Origin of tip³

C13: perhaps from Low German tippen

Origin of tip⁴

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tip one's hand, to reveal one's plans, true feelings, etc., often unintentionally.

More idioms and phrases containing tip

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

Example Sentences

The hell with Tip O’Neill; these days, no politics is local.

From Slate

What’s your biggest tip for cutting down on food waste?

From Salon

Most Americans feel like they’re being asked to tip now more than ever, studies show.

From Salon

According to credit card processor Square, and as reported by CBS, nearly 75% of remote transactions in food and beverage now ask for a tip, including online orders and at self-service kiosks.

From Salon

Due to its prevalence in our everyday lives, it wasn’t surprising that tipping showed up on the ballot during this election, both literally — with a Massachusetts proposal to eliminate the tip wage that could serve as a model for other states — and more figuratively, as both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris signaled in their campaigns that they might support eliminating taxes on tips.

From Salon

Related Words

• bend
• dump
• lean
• spill
• tilt
• topple
• upset