dipstick

English

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dipstick

/ˈdɪpstɪk/

Rhymes with -ɪpstɪk

Where it comes from

From dip + stick.

noun dipsticks · dip-stick

A stick or rod used to measure the depth of a liquid. Often used to check the level at which a liquid in an opaque or inaccessible tank or reservoir stands; gauge. I haven't checked the oil level of my car's motor since I lost the dipstick three months ago.
derogatory, obsolete An exciseman or supervisor who measures with a dipstick.
slang The penis.
derogatory, slang A useless person of inferior intellect; a dipshit. That referee is a right dipstick.

verb dipsticks · dipsticking · dipsticked · dip-stick

transitive To check (a person) for their understanding of something, as of a lesson, or attitude toward something. What most educators mean by “doing Madeline Hunter” is using her seven-step approach to planning a lesson. In Santa Barbara, as in most of her road shows, several hours are devoted to spelling out this technique, which calls for specific acts of review, introduction, explanation, “modeling” (demonst
transitive To measure the level of a fluid using a dipstick. If one of the fuel gauges is inoperative (flight is not permitted if both have failed), the tanks have to be dipsticked before and after each fueling to confirm the aircraft's fuel status.

Translations

Every language

noun a stick or rod

Español	varilla, bayoneta
Français	jauge
Italiano	asta di livello, astina
Русский	щуп ščup

noun a person of inferior intellect

Deutsch	Vollpfosten
Italiano	coglione

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MLA

"dipstick." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/dipstick. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

dipstick. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/dipstick

Chicago

"dipstick." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/dipstick.

BibTeX

@misc{dipstick_2026,
  title = {dipstick},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/dipstick},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}