Dip, n.
 1. The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid. “The dip of oars in unison.”
 2. Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
 4. A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or spoon. [Local, U.S.]
 5. A dipped candle. [Colloq.]
 6. A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the performer, resting on his hands, lets his arms bend and his body sink until his chin is level with the bars, and then raises himself by straightening his arms.
 7.  In the turpentine industry, the viscid exudation, which is dipped out from incisions in the trees; as, virgin dip (the runnings of the first year), yellow dip (the runnings of subsequent years).
 8.  Aëronautics A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
 Dip of the horizon Astron., the angular depression of the seen or visible horizon below the true or natural horizon; the angle at the eye of an observer between a horizontal line and a tangent drawn from the eye to the surface of the ocean.
 Dip of the needle, or Magnetic dip, the angle formed, in a vertical plane, by a freely suspended magnetic needle, or the line of magnetic force, with a horizontal line; -- called also inclination.
 Dip of a stratum Geol., its greatest angle of inclination to the horizon, or that of a line perpendicular to its direction or strike; -- called also the pitch.
 ◄ ►
 In·cli·na·tion n.
 1. The act of inclining, or state of being inclined; a leaning; as, an inclination of the head.
 2. A direction or tendency from the true vertical or horizontal direction; as, the inclination of a column, or of a road bed.
 3. A tendency towards another body or point.
 4. Geom. The angle made by two lines or planes; as, the inclination of the plane of the earth's equator to the plane of the ecliptic is about 23° 28´; the inclination of two rays of light.
 5. A leaning or tendency of the mind, feelings, preferences, or will; propensity; a disposition more favorable to one thing than to another; favor; desire; love.
    A mere inclination to a thing is not properly a willing of that thing.   --South.
    How dost thou find the inclination of the people?   --Shak.
 6. A person or thing loved or admired.
 7. Pharm. Decantation, or tipping for pouring.
 Inclination compass, an inclinometer.
 Inclination of an orbit Astron., the angle which the orbit makes with the ecliptic.
 Inclination of the needle. See Dip of the needle, under Dip.
 Syn: -- Bent; tendency; proneness; bias; proclivity; propensity; prepossession; predilection; attachment; desire; affection; love. See Bent, and cf. Disposition.
 ◄ ►