noun / verb
dunk
A shot made by forcing the ball downward through the basketball hoop.
The player dunks the ball through the hoop.
Etymology
German tunken means to dip something into liquid. Basketball borrowed the image of putting something down into a receptacle for forcing the ball through the hoop.
More examples
- A powerful dunk brought the crowd to its feet.
- She dunked during the final minute.
- They are practicing dunking.
Forms
dunk · dunks · dunked · dunking
Similar words
- slam
- Slam informally emphasizes a forceful dunk.
- layup
- A layup places the ball upward toward the basket rather than forcing it downward.