dipper

/'dipə/

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The word "dipper" can refer to different things, so let's break it down in an easy way for you!

Basic Definition

1. Dipper (Noun):
   • It can refer to a small bird that dives underwater, often found in fast-flowing streams. This bird does not have webbed feet and is known for feeding along the bottom of the water.
   • It can also refer to a type of duck found in North America, which has males with bushy head feathers.
   • In astronomy, "dipper" refers to a group of seven stars that form a shape resembling a ladle or scoop. There are two main groups: the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major) and the Little Dipper (part of Ursa Minor). The North Star, Polaris, is located at the end of the Little Dipper's handle.
   • Lastly, a "dipper" can be a ladle, which is a kitchen tool with a deep bowl and a long handle used for serving liquids like soup or sauce.

Usage Instructions

• When talking about the bird or duck, you can use "dipper" to describe their behavior or habitat. For example: "The dipper dives into the stream to catch fish."
• When referring to the stars, you can say: "I saw the Big Dipper in the night sky."
• In cooking, you might say: "Use the dipper to serve the soup."

Examples

• Bird: "The dipper is known for its ability to swim and dive underwater."
• Duck: "I spotted a male dipper at the pond; its feathers were very striking."
• Stars: "On clear nights, the Big Dipper is easy to find in the sky."
• Ladle: "She used the dipper to pour the hot stew into bowls."

Advanced Usage

• In literature or poetry, "dipper" can symbolize guidance or navigation, especially when discussing the stars.
• In environmental studies, you can discuss the habitat of the dipper bird and its role in the ecosystem.

Word Variants

• Dipped (verb): Past tense of dip, meaning to lower something into a liquid.
• Dipping (verb): The action of lowering or immersing something briefly.

Different Meanings

• The word can have different meanings based on context, such as a bird, a star formation, or a kitchen tool.

Synonyms

• For the kitchen utensil: ladle, scoop.
• For the bird: water ouzel (another name for the dipper bird).
• For the star groups: constellation (in general).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Currently, there are no well-known idioms or phrasal verbs that include the word "dipper." However, you might encounter phrases like "dipped in" (to be involved in something, often negatively) in a different context.

Academic

Noun

1. small stocky diving bird without webbed feet; frequents fast-flowing streams and feeds along the bottom
2. small North American diving duck; males have bushy head plumage
3. a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major
4. a cluster of seven stars in Ursa Minor; at the end of the dipper's handle is Polaris
5. a ladle that has a cup with a long handle

Synonyms

• water ouzel
• bufflehead
• butterball
• Bucephela albeola
• Big Dipper
• Dipper
• Plough
• Charles's Wain
• Wain
• Wagon
• Little Dipper