tip

UK: /ˈtɪp/ US: /tɪp/ ,(tip)

Inflections of 'tip' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

tips

v 3rd person singular

tipping

v pres p

tipped

v past

tipped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tip¹ /tɪp/   n., v., tipped, tip•ping. 
n. [countable]

1. a pointed end:
   the tips of the fingers.
2. the top;
   apex:
   the tip of a steeple.
3. a small piece covering the end of something:
   a cane with a rubber tip.

v. [~ + object]

4. to give or provide with a tip.
5. to mark the tip of.

tip² /tɪp/   v., tipped, tip•ping, n. 
v. 

1. to (cause to) be in a slanting position;
   tilt: [no object]
   The floor tipped as the earthquake rocked the region.
   [~ + object]
   He tipped his hat in greeting.
2. to overturn;
   upset;
   (cause to) tumble: [~ + object (+ over)]
   to tip the basket (over).
   [~ (+ over) + object]
   He tipped (over) the basket.
   [no object* (~ + over)]
   The lamp tipped (over) and the light bulb exploded.

n. [countable]

3. the act of tipping.
4. the state of being tipped.
5. Mining, British Terms [Brit.] a dump for garbage.

tip³ /tɪp/   n., v., tipped, tip•ping. 
n. [countable]

1. a gift of money over and above payment;
   a gratuity:
   a tip for the waiter.
2. a piece of secret information:
   a tip on a racehorse; a tip on a drug raid.
3. a useful hint or idea:
   tips on gardening.

v. 

4. to give a gift of money over and above payment: [~ + object]
   tipping a waiter.
   [no object]
   She tipped lavishly.
5. tip off, to give secret information: [~ + off + object]
   Someone must have tipped off the cops.
   [~ + object + off]
   Someone must have tipped him off.

tip•per, n. [countable]

: She's not a big tipper.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tip¹  (tip), n., v., tipped, tip•ping. 
n. 

1. a slender or pointed end or extremity, esp. 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-on. 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.

v.t. 

6. to furnish with a tip.
7. to serve as or form the tip of.
8. to mark or adorn the tip of.
9. to remove the tip or stem of (berries or certain fruits or vegetables).
10. Clothing to frost the ends of (hair strands):
    I'm having my hair cut and tipped tomorrow.
11. Printing tip in, [Bookbinding.] to paste the inner margin of (a map, illustration, or other plate) into a signature before gathering.

• 1175–1225; Middle English; compare Dutch, Low German, Danish tip, Swedish tipp, German zipf- in Zipfel tip

tip′less, adj. 

tip²  (tip), v., tipped, tip•ping, n. 
v.t. 

1. to cause to assume a slanting or sloping position;
   incline;
   tilt.
2. to overturn, upset, or overthrow (often fol. by over).
3. to remove or lift (one's hat or cap) in salutation.
4. British Terms to dispose of by dumping:
   The dustmen tipped the rubbish on the municipal dump.

v.i. 

5. to assume a slanting or sloping position;
   incline.
6. to tilt up at one end and down at the other;
   slant.
7. to be overturned or upset:
   The car tipped into the ditch.
8. to tumble or topple (usually fol. by over):
   The lamp on the table tipped over.
9. tip one's hand, to reveal one's plans, true feelings, etc., often unintentionally.

n. 

10. the act of tipping.
11. the state of being tipped.
12. British Terms
    • , Mining, British Terms a dump for refuse, as that from a mine.
    • British Terms [Informal.] an untidy place, esp. a room:
      They must have packed and left in a rush, because the place is an absolute tip.

• earlier tipen, Middle English typen to upset, overturn 1300–50

tip′pa•ble, adj. 

tip³ (tip),  n., v., tipped, tip•ping. 

n. 

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.

v.t. 

4. to give a gratuity to.

v.i. 

5. to give a gratuity:
   She tipped lavishly.
6. 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.

• perh. special use of tip⁴ 1600–10

tip′less, adj. 
tip′pa•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 3. suggestion, pointer.

tip⁴ (tip),  n., v., tipped, tip•ping. 

n. 

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

v.t. 

3. to strike or hit with a light, smart blow;
   tap.
4. Sport [Baseball.] to strike (the ball) with a glancing blow.

• Low German
• Low German; compare German tippen to tap
• 1425–75; late Middle English (noun, nominal); perh.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tip / 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 (tips, tipping, tipped)(transitive)

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

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old Norse typpa; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch tip

ˈtipless adjective

tip / tɪp/ verb (tips, tipping, tipped)

1. to tilt or cause to tilt
2. usually followed by over 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

Etymology: 14th Century: of uncertain origin; related to top¹, topple

tip / 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 (tips, tipping, tipped)

1. to give a tip to (a person)

Etymology: 18th Century: perhaps from tip⁴

tip / tɪp/ verb (tips, tipping, tipped)(transitive)

1. to hit or strike lightly

noun

1. a light blow

Etymology: 13th Century: perhaps from Low German tippen