dipstick

noun

dip·​stick ˈdip-ˌstik How to pronounce dipstick (audio)
1
: a graduated rod for indicating depth (as of oil in a crankcase)
2
[euphemism for dipshit] : nitwit
3
: a chemically sensitive strip of paper used to identify one or more constituents (such as glucose or protein) of urine by immersion

Examples of dipstick in a Sentence

Some dipstick cut in front of me on the highway. which dipstick used the good china as a dog dish?
Recent Examples on the Web To check, simply pull out the dipstick. Paul Stenquist, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2020 No longer is there a dipstick. Bob Weber, chicagotribune.com, 21 Oct. 2021 The results could be read using a paper dipstick. Walter Isaacson, STAT, 5 Mar. 2021 The correct level will be indicated on the dipstick. Paul Stenquist, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2020 Forry pulled out the oil dipstick and waved it in the air. Oliver Whang, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022 Gilbert compares individual antibody titers with a dipstick for oil in a car. Tasnim Ahmed, CNN, 22 Mar. 2022 The task of periodically checking the liquids was typically carried out by a young Russian who climbed on top of the tanks with a dipstick. Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2022 My 2019 Alfa, with a 2-liter engine, doesn’t have a dipstick to check the oil level. Ray Magliozzi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dipstick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dipstick was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near dipstick

Cite this Entry

“Dipstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dipstick. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dipstick

noun
dip·​stick ˈdip-ˌstik How to pronounce dipstick (audio)
: a rod with marks for indicating depth (as of the oil in an automobile)

Medical Definition

dipstick

noun
dip·​stick ˈdip-ˌstik How to pronounce dipstick (audio)
: a chemically sensitive strip of paper used to identify one or more constituents (as glucose or protein) of urine by immersion

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