dunk

name

1. A surname.
2. A locality in Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia, which includes the Family Islands; one is Dunk Island, named after George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.

noun

Etymology: From Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn (“to dip, submerge, dunk”), from Proto-West Germanic *þunkōn (“to make wet”), possibly from Proto-Germanic *þunkōną, from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to moisten, wet”). Cognate with German tunken (“to dunk”), Latin tingō (“to wet, moisten”), Ancient Greek τέγγω (téngō, “to wet, moisten”). Related to taint, tincture, tint.

1. The act or instance of dunking, particularly in basketball.

   “The point guard threaded a pass with pinpoint precision to the power forward for an easy dunk.”

   “She gave the biscuit a dunk in her cup of milk.”

verb

Etymology: From Pennsylvania German dunke, from Middle High German dunken, from Old High German dunkōn (“to dip, submerge, dunk”), from Proto-West Germanic *þunkōn (“to make wet”), possibly from Proto-Germanic *þunkōną, from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to moisten, wet”). Cognate with German tunken (“to dunk”), Latin tingō (“to wet, moisten”), Ancient Greek τέγγω (téngō, “to wet, moisten”). Related to taint, tincture, tint.

1. To submerge briefly in a liquid.

   “I like to dunk my donut in my apple cider.”

2. To set down carelessly.

   “Parents shouldn't just dunk their kids in front of the TV.”

3. To put the ball directly downward through the hoop while grabbing onto the rim with power.

   “The center spun quickly and dunked the ball with authority.”

4. To put down on social media [with on].