Dip vs. Splash — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on November 21, 2023
"Dip" often refers to immersing something briefly in a liquid, while "Splash" indicates causing liquid to scatter in drops. Both suggest interaction with liquid but in different manners.
Difference Between Dip and Splash
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Dip" and "Splash" are both verbs associated with liquids, yet they depict distinct actions. The term "Dip" typically signifies the act of immersing an object or part of it into a liquid momentarily. For instance, one might dip a chip into salsa or dip their toes into a pool to test the temperature. This action suggests a controlled, deliberate interaction with the liquid.
On the contrary, "Splash" portrays a more forceful and often chaotic interaction with liquid. When something splashes, it causes the liquid to scatter or disperse in droplets, often suddenly. For instance, jumping into a pool can cause a splash, sending water flying in multiple directions. The term can evoke notions of playful or careless encounters with water or other liquids.
"Dip" can also have more subtle connotations. It might imply a brief decline or reduction in quantities, like a dip in sales. "Splash", in a more figurative sense, can mean making a noticeable impact, as in making a splash in the fashion industry. Despite their differences, both "Dip" and "Splash" enrich the English language by providing specific nuances to actions involving liquids.
While both terms can be used in various contexts, their core meanings revolve around interactions with liquids. When choosing between "Dip" and "Splash", it's crucial to consider the nature of the interaction: is it gentle and controlled like a dip or more forceful and spontaneous like a splash?
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Immersing something briefly in a liquid.
Causing liquid to scatter in drops.
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Type of Action
Controlled and deliberate.
Often sudden and forceful.
Connotation
Subtlety, momentary immersion.
Energy, dispersion.
Extended Meanings
A brief decline or reduction.
Making a noticeable impact.
Associated Imagery
A hand dipping into water.
Water droplets flying after a stone is thrown into a pond.
Compare with Definitions
Dip
A brief decrease in levels or amounts.
The company noticed a dip in profits last quarter.
Splash
A sound made by a liquid striking or falling on another surface.
I heard the splash of rain against the window.
Dip
A sauce into which food is dunked before eating.
The chips came with a spicy dip on the side.
Splash
A small amount of a color or a liquid.
She added a splash of red to the painting.
Dip
To plunge briefly into a liquid, as in order to wet, coat, or saturate.
Splash
To propel or scatter (a fluid) about in flying masses.
Dip
To color or dye by immersing
Dip Easter eggs.
Splash
To scatter fluid onto (a surface) in flying masses; wet, stain, or soil with flying fluid.
Dip
To immerse (a sheep or other animal) in a disinfectant solution.
Splash
To cause (something) to scatter fluid in flying masses
Splashed their hands in the water.
Dip
To form (a candle) by repeatedly immersing a wick in melted wax or tallow.
Splash
To make (one's way) with or by the scattering of fluid.
Dip
To galvanize or plate (metal) by immersion.
Splash
To apply patches or spots of a contrasting, usually bright, color to
A floral pattern that was splashed with pink.
Moonlight splashing the deserted courtyard.
Dip
To scoop up by plunging the hand or a receptacle below the surface, as of a liquid; ladle
Dip water out of a bucket.
Splash
To display or publicize very noticeably
Their engagement was splashed all over the tabloids.
Dip
To lower and raise (a flag) in salute.
Splash
To cause a fluid to scatter in flying masses
Splashed about in the swimming pool.
Dip
To lower or drop (something) suddenly
Dipped my head to avoid the branch.
Splash
To fall into or move through fluid with this effect
We splashed through the waves.
Dip
(Slang) To pick the pockets of.
Splash
To move, spill, or fly about in scattered masses
Whipped cream splashed onto the counter.
Dip
To plunge into water or other liquid and come out quickly.
Splash
To produce a sound or sight associated with this effect.
Dip
To plunge the hand or a receptacle into liquid or a container, especially so as to take something up or out
I dipped into my pocket for some coins.
Splash
The act or sound of splashing
Went for a splash in the lake.
Heard the splash of the fish being thrown back.
Dip
To withdraw a small amount from a fund
We dipped into our savings.
Splash
A flying mass of fluid.
Dip
To drop down or sink out of sight suddenly
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Splash
A small amount, especially of a fluid
A splash of liqueur on the cake.
Dip
To drop suddenly before climbing. Used of an aircraft.
Splash
A marking produced by or as if by scattered fluid
A splash of light.
Dip
To slope downward; decline
The road dipped.
Splash
A great though often short-lived impression; a stir
A publicity splash.
Dip
To decline slightly and usually temporarily
Sales dipped after Christmas.
Splash
(onomatopoeia) The sound made by an object hitting a liquid.
I heard a splash when the rock landed in the pond.
Dip
(Geology) To lie at an angle to the horizontal plane, as a rock stratum or vein.
Splash
A small amount of liquid.
I felt a splash of rain, so I put up my hood.
I felt a splash of water on my leg as the car drove into the nearby puddle.
Dip
To read here and there at random; browse
Dipping into Chaucer.
Splash
A small amount (of color).
The painter put a splash of blue on the wall to make it more colorful
Dip
To investigate a subject superficially; dabble
Dipped into psychology.
Splash
A mark or stain made from a small amount of liquid.
There was a visible splash on his pants after he went to the bathroom.
Dip
(Slang) To steal by picking pockets.
Splash
An impact or impression.
The new movie made quite a splash upon its release.
Dip
To place a preparation of finely shredded tobacco in one's mouth.
Splash
A splash screen.
Dip
A brief plunge or immersion, especially a quick swim.
Splash
(wrestling) A body press; a move where the wrestler jumps forward from a raised platform such as the top turnbuckle, landing stomach first across an opponent lying on the ground below.
Dip
A liquid into which something is dipped, as for dyeing or disinfecting.
Splash
(dated) A cosmetic powder to whiten the complexion.
Dip
A savory creamy mixture into which crackers, raw vegetables, or other foods may be dipped.
Splash
(journalism) A large, prominent headline or article.
Dip
An amount taken up by dipping.
Splash
The shooting down of an aircraft over water.
Dip
A container for dipping.
Splash
The bleeding caused by a knife wound.
Dip
A candle made by repeated dipping in tallow or wax.
Splash
A knife.
Dip
A downward slope; a decline.
Splash
To hit or agitate liquid so that part of it separates from the principal liquid mass.
Sit and splash in the bathtub
Dip
A sharp downward course; a drop
A dip in prices.
Splash
To disperse a fluid suddenly; to splatter.
Water splashed everywhere
Dip
(Geology) The downward inclination of a rock stratum or vein in reference to the plane of the horizon.
Splash
(transitive) To hit or expel liquid at.
The children were splashing each other playfully in the sea.
When she comes in the door, splash her with perfume.
Dip
(Linguistics) A part of a phrase or sentence that is unstressed or less strongly stressed relative to surrounding words, as the words I and to in I have to go.
Splash
To create an impact or impression; to print, post, or publicize prominently.
The headline was splashed across newspapers everywhere.
Dip
The unstressed portion of a metrical foot.
Splash
(transitive) To spend (money).
After pay day I can afford to splash some cash and buy myself a motorbike.
Dip
Magnetic dip.
Splash
(figurative) To roughly fill with color.
Dip
A hollow or depression.
Splash
To launch a ship.
Dip
(Sports) A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the body is lowered by bending the elbows until the chin reaches the level of the bars and then is raised by straightening the arms.
Splash
To shoot down (an aircraft) over water.
Dip
(Slang) A pickpocket.
Splash
To stab (a person), causing them to bleed.
Dip
(Slang) A foolish or stupid person.
Splash
To strike and dash about, as water, mud, etc.; to plash.
Dip
A preparation of finely shredded tobacco, usually placed between the lower lip and gum. Also called snuff.
Splash
To spatter water, mud, etc., upon; to wet.
Dip
A lower section of a road or geological feature.
There is a dip in the road ahead.
Splash
To strike and dash about water, mud, etc.; to dash in such a way as to spatter.
Dip
Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
Splash
Water, or water and dirt, thrown upon anything, or thrown from a puddle or the like; also, a spot or daub, as of matter which wets or disfigures.
Dip
The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
Splash
A noise made by striking upon or in a liquid.
Dip
A tank or trough where cattle or sheep are immersed in chemicals to kill parasites.
Splash
The sound like water splashing
Dip
A dip stick.
Splash
A small quantity of something moist or soft;
A dab of paint
A splatter of mud
Dip
A swim, usually a short swim to refresh.
I’m going for a dip before breakfast.
Splash
The act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
Dip
A pickpocket.
Splash
The act of scattering water about haphazardly
Dip
A sauce for dipping.
This onion dip is just scrumptious.
Splash
Cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force;
She splashed the water around her
Dip
(geology) The angle from horizontal of a planar geologic surface, such as a fault line.
Splash
Walk through mud or mire;
We had to splosh across the wet meadow
Dip
(archaic) A dipped candle.
Splash
Dash a liquid upon or against;
The mother splashed the baby's face with water
Dip
(dance) A move in many different styles of partner dances, often performed at the end of a dance, in which the follower leans far to the side and is supported by the leader.
Splash
Mark or overlay with patches of contrasting color or texture; cause to appear splashed or spattered;
The mountain was splashed with snow
Dip
(bodybuilding) A gymnastic or bodybuilding exercise on 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.
Splash
Make a splashing sound;
Water was splashing on the floor
Dip
(turpentine industry) The viscid exudation that is dipped out from incisions in the trees. Virgin dip is the runnings of the first year, yellow dip the runnings of subsequent years.
Splash
Soil or stain with a splashed liquid
Dip
(aeronautics) A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
Splash
Strike and dash about in a liquid;
The boys splashed around in the pool
Dip
(uncountable) The moist form of snuff tobacco.
Splash
To cause liquid to scatter in irregular drops.
The kids love to splash water on each other at the beach.
Dip
The act of missing out on seeing a sought after bird.
Splash
To wet or soil by dashing masses or particles of water or other liquids.
Be careful not to splash mud on your new shoes.
Dip
Fried bread.
Splash
Making a prominent impression.
The new artist made quite a splash in the music industry.
Dip
A financial asset in decline, seen as an investment opportunity.
Buy the dips
Dip
(informal) A foolish person.
Dip
(informal) A diplomat.
Dip
(transitive) To lower into a liquid.
Dip your biscuit into your tea.
Dip
(intransitive) To immerse oneself; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
Dip
(intransitive) (of a value or rate) To decrease slightly.
Dip
(transitive) To lower a light's beam.
Dip your lights as you meet an oncoming car.
Dip
(transitive) To lower (a flag), particularly a national ensign, to a partially hoisted position in order to render or to return a salute. While lowered, the flag is said to be “at the dip.” A flag being carried on a staff may be dipped by leaning it forward at an approximate angle of 45 degrees.
The sailor rushed to the flag hoist to dip the flag in return.
Dip
(transitive) To treat cattle or sheep by immersion in chemical solution.
The farmer is going to dip the cattle today.
Dip
(transitive) To use a dip stick to check oil level in an engine.
Dip
To consume snuff by placing a pinch behind the lip or under the tongue so that the active chemical constituents of the snuff may be absorbed into the system for their narcotic effect.
Dip
(transitive) To immerse for baptism.
Dip
(transitive) To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
Dip
(intransitive) To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
Dip
(transitive) To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; often with out.
To dip water from a boiler; to dip out water
Dip
(intransitive) To perform the action of plunging a dipper, ladle. etc. into a liquid or soft substance and removing a part.
Dip
(transitive) To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
Dip
(transitive) To perform (a bow or curtsey) by inclining the body.
Dip
(intransitive) To incline downward from the plane of the horizon.
Strata of rock dip.
Dip
To perform a dip dance move (often phrased with the leader as the subject noun and the follower as the subject noun being dipped)
Dip
To lower the body by bending the knees while keeping the body in an upright position, as in movement to the rhythm of music.
Dip
To leave.
He dipped out of the room so fast.
Dip
To miss out on seeing a sought after bird.
Dip
To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a moment into a liquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again.
The priest shall dip his finger in the blood.
[Wat'ry fowl] now dip their pinions in the briny deep.
While the prime swallow dips his wing.
Dip
To immerse for baptism; to baptize by immersion.
Dip
To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
A cold shuddering dewDips me all o'er.
Dip
To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons.
Dip
To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; - often with out; as, to dip water from a boiler; to dip out water.
Dip
To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
Live on the use and never dip thy lands.
Dip
To immerse one's self; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out.
Dip
To perform the action of plunging some receptacle, as a dipper, ladle. etc.; into a liquid or a soft substance and removing a part.
Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot.
Dip
To pierce; to penetrate; - followed by in or into.
When I dipt into the future.
Dip
To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily or by the way; to partake limitedly; - followed by in or into.
Dip
To incline downward from the plane of the horizon; as, strata of rock dip.
Dip
To dip snuff.
Dip
The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
Dip
Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
Dip
A hollow or depression in a surface, especially in the ground.
Dip
A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or spoon.
Dip
A dipped candle.
Dip
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.
Dip
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).
Dip
A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
Dip
A liquid, in which objects are soaked by dipping; e.g., a parasiticide or insecticide solution into which animals are dipped (see sheep-dip).
Dip
A sauce into which foods are dipped to enhance the flavor; e. g., an onion dip made from sour cream and dried onions, into which potato chips are dipped.
Dip
A pickpocket.
Dip
A depression in an otherwise level surface;
There was a dip in the road
Dip
(physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon
Dip
A thief who steals from the pockets or purses of others in public places
Dip
Tasty mixture or liquid into which bite-sized foods are dipped
Dip
A brief immersion
Dip
A sudden sharp decrease in some quantity;
A drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index
There was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery
A dip in prices
When that became known the price of their stock went into free fall
Dip
A candle that is made by repeated dipping in a pool of wax or tallow
Dip
A brief swim in water
Dip
A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the body is lowered and raised by bending and straightening the arms
Dip
Immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate;
Dip the garment into the cleaning solution
Dip the brush into the paint
Dip
Dip into a liquid while eating;
She dunked the piece of bread in the sauce
Dip
Go down momentarily;
Prices dipped
Dip
Stain an object by immersing it in a liquid
Dip
Switch (a car's headlights) from a higher to a lower beam
Dip
Lower briefly;
She dipped her knee
Dip
Appear to move downward;
The sun dipped below the horizon
The setting sun sank below the tree line
Dip
Slope downwards;
Our property dips towards the river
Dip
Dip into a liquid;
He dipped into the pool
Dip
Of candles; by dipping the wick into hot, liquid wax
Dip
Immerse in a disinfectant solution;
Dip the sheep
Dip
Scoop up by plunging one's hand or a ladle below the surface;
Dip water out of a container
Dip
To immerse something partly or completely in a liquid.
She decided to dip her biscuit in the tea.
Dip
To lower and raise something.
He took a dip in the pool to cool off.
Dip
A downward slope.
The road ahead had a steep dip before rising again.
Common Curiosities
Which word, Dip or Splash, suggests a gentle immersion in liquid?
"Dip" suggests a gentle and often brief immersion in liquid.
What might "making a splash" in a figurative sense imply?
It means making a noticeable or significant impact or impression in a certain area or field.
When might someone use the term "Dip" outside of a liquid context?
"Dip" can refer to a brief decline, as in a dip in temperatures or sales.
Can "Dip" also refer to a type of sauce?
Yes, a "Dip" can be a sauce into which food is dunked before eating.
Can "Dip" mean a downward inclination in the road?
Yes, "Dip" can refer to a downward slope or depression in a surface.
Can "Dip" be used as a noun?
Yes, "Dip" can be a noun referring to a sauce or a downward slope.
Is a "Splash" always intentional?
No, a splash can be accidental, like splashing water while washing hands.
Can Splash also be a noun?
Yes, "Splash" can be a noun indicating the sound or action of liquid hitting a surface.
Does "Splash" always involve a lot of liquid?
No, one can also refer to a small amount as a "splash", like a splash of lemon in water.
Does "Dip" always imply submerging something completely?
No, "Dip" can mean immersing something partly or wholly.
Can you "Dip" your hand in paint?
Yes, one can "Dip" their hand or any object into any liquid, including paint.
Can you "splash" paint on a canvas?
Yes, "splash" can refer to scattering any liquid, including paint, in droplets.
Is a "Dip" always momentary?
While "Dip" often implies brief immersion, it doesn't necessarily have to be momentary.
Can a news headline cause a "Splash"?
Yes, in a figurative sense, a headline can make a "splash" by gaining a lot of attention.
Is "Splash" only associated with water?
No, "Splash" can be associated with any liquid, like a splash of milk or paint.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
