tip — a small amount of money given to someone who has provided a service
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a small amount of money given to someone who has provided a service
Pronunciation (IPA): /tɪp/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's cooking tip: add love as the secret ingredient!
- He was so clumsy that he managed to tip over a chair while sitting down.
- The waiter deserves a good tip for not laughing at my pronunciation.
tip
NOUN[/tɪp/]
a small amount of money given to someone who has provided a service
She left a generous tip on the cafe table after a lovely brunch.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Tip emerged in the mid-17th century from Germanic roots, originally meaning 'to tap or strike lightly.' The word evolved to denote 'a small gift of money' through semantic extension, likely influenced by the gesture of lightly tapping to produce coins from one's pocket as a gratuity.
Breakdown
Low German tippen (to tap lightly) + -en (verb suffix). The semantic shift from the physical action of tapping to the social practice of giving money reflects the gesture of producing coins with a light touch.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's cooking tip: add love as the secret ingredient!”
“He was so clumsy that he managed to tip over a chair while sitting down.”
“The waiter deserves a good tip for not laughing at my pronunciation.”
“Here's a tip: always read the instructions before assembling furniture.”
“The mountain tip was covered with snow all year round.”
📚Related Words
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