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Glite Dictionary
🕳️ A cone-shaped hole 🛠️ A special drill 🔩 To set below surface
to countersink

to countersink

8.1
To make a screw head sit level or below the surface
  • verb
  • /ˈkaʊntərˌsɪŋk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : avellanar
  • To achieve a smooth finish, remember to countersink the holes you drilled for the screws.
  • countersink the hole
  • countersink the screw

Examples

  • In woodworking, you often countersink fasteners to ensure they sit neatly below the wood surface.

  • OK, I need to countersink that side just a little bit.

  • Now I countersink the lesson: "How would you feel if someone asked us to move so they could park?"

    Academic text (1998)

  • This thing looks like we can countersink a couple of these screws.

  • When you work with plywood that thin make sure that you pre drill and countersink otherwise the wood might split.

  • You're still countersinking it by eyeballs.

  • Before installing the fixture, make sure to countersink the screws so they are flush with the surface.

Antonyms

to protrude
31 5.8

To stick out from a surface or edge

Compounds

countersink bit
  • Specialized
8.6

A drill bit that makes the top of a hole wider so a screw head sits flat with the surface

Surface Forms

countersink infinitive
countersinking present participle
countersinks third person singular
countersank past
countersunk past participle

Morphology

countersink = sink (semi-transparent) = counter + sink

The verb is formed by adding the technical combining element 'counter-' to 'sink'; the overall action is interpretable but the specialized 'counter-' sense may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Countersink as a verb breaks into counter- 'against' and sink 'to go down'. So to countersink something is to make a screw or bolt head 'sink' into the surface so it is level or hidden.