Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

countersink

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.55 in modern English

Syllables: coun-ter-sink
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A conical recess, typically machined at the mouth of a hole to admit a screw (with a matching taper) so that the screw sits flush with a surface.

noun

The cutter used to cut such a recess. (Also used, at less depth, for edge-breaking/deburring.)

verb

To create such a conical recess.

Transitive verb

verb

To cause to sink even with or below the surface.

Example Sentences

"Holonym: center drill (combined drill and countersink)"
"to countersink a hole for a screw"
"to countersink a screw or bolt into woodwork"
"I countersank into the locust just enough to make the nailhead flush."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- English sink English countersink From counter- + sink.

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

countersinks (plural) countersinks (present, singular) countersinking (participle, present) countersank (past) countersunk (past) countersunk (participle, past)

Derived Forms

countersinker

Phrases

back-countersink

Frequently Paired Words

counterbore drill drill bit reamer endmill diesinking sink spotface

Synonyms

countersinker counterbore countersink bit set

Questions

What does countersink mean?: A conical recess, typically machined at the mouth of a hole to admit a screw (with a matching taper) so that the screw sits flush with a surface.
Where does countersink come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- English sink English countersink From counter- + sink.

How to pronounce countersink

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