Difference Wiki

Sink vs. Washbasin: What's the Difference?

Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 3, 2023
A "sink" is a plumbing fixture used for washing hands, dishes, and other purposes, while a "washbasin" is specifically designed for washing hands and face. Both have taps and drains but differ in usage and location.

Key Differences

A "sink" is a broad term for a basin with a faucet and a drain, generally used for multiple purposes such as washing hands, rinsing dishes, or even washing clothes in some cases. A "washbasin," however, is more specialized and is typically designed for washing hands and face.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023
From a grammatical perspective, both "sink" and "washbasin" function as nouns. However, "sink" can also serve as a verb, meaning to descend or to cause to enter a liquid. In contrast, "washbasin" remains solely a noun and has no verb form.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023
While sinks can be found in various settings like kitchens, utility rooms, and workshops, washbasins are commonly found in bathrooms. The design of a sink can be more complex, often featuring additional accessories like a garbage disposal unit, whereas a washbasin is generally simpler in construction.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023
Sinks often come in a variety of materials like stainless steel, ceramic, and composite materials. Washbasins are typically made of porcelain or ceramic but can also be made of other materials like stone.
Janet White
Sep 19, 2023
In summary, although both "sink" and "washbasin" refer to a bowl-like fixture with a tap and a drain, the key difference lies in their usage and location. Sinks serve multiple functions and are found in a variety of settings, while washbasins are specialized for washing hands and face and are primarily located in bathrooms.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Comparison Chart

Grammatical Role

Noun and Verb
Noun only
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Primary Location

Kitchens, utility rooms, workshops
Bathrooms
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Function

Multiple uses, including washing dishes
Specifically for washing hands and face
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Complexity

Can have added features like garbage disposal
Generally simpler in design
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Material

Stainless steel, ceramic, composite materials
Typically porcelain or ceramic, sometimes stone
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Sink and Washbasin Definitions

Sink

A fixture for various washing activities.
The utility sink is for laundry.
Sara Rehman
Sep 19, 2023

Washbasin

A vessel with a tap in a restroom.
Turn off the tap when you're done using the washbasin.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

To go below the surface of water or another liquid
We watched the leaky inner tube slowly sink.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

A sink primarily for personal hygiene.
The washbasin is made of porcelain.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

To descend to the bottom of a body of water or other liquid
Found the wreck where it had sunk.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Washbasin

A basin for washing hands and face.
There is a washbasin in the restroom.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages
The water in the lake sank several feet during the long, dry summer.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

A bathroom fixture with a faucet.
The washbasin has an elegant design.
Janet White
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

To subside or settle gradually
Cracks developed as the building sank.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

A small sink in a bathroom.
I brushed my teeth at the washbasin.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

See washbowl.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To slope downward; incline
The road sinks as it approaches the stream.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

A basin used for washing, particularly a permanently installed sink, fitted with a water supply and a drain, for washing the hands and face.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To fall or lower oneself slowly, as from weakness or fatigue
The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

A bathroom or lavatory sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you wash your hands and face;
He ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To feel great disappointment or discouragement
Her heart sank within her.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Washbasin

A basin for washing the hands (`wash-hand basin' is a British expression)
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To pass into something; penetrate
The claws sank into the flesh of the prey.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To steep or soak
The wine has sunk into my shirt.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To pass into a specified condition
She sank into a deep sleep.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To deteriorate in quality or condition
The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To diminish, as in value
Gold prices are sinking.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful
His voice sank to a whisper.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To make an impression; become felt or understood
The meaning finally sank in.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To cause to descend beneath the surface or to the bottom of a liquid
Sink a ship.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To cause to penetrate deeply
He sank his sword into the dragon's belly.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To force into the ground
Sink a piling.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To cause to drop or lower
Sank the bucket into the well.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(Sports) To propel (a ball or shot) into a hole, basket, or pocket.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To cause to be engrossed
"Frank sank himself in another book" (Patricia Highsmith).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful
She sank her voice when the manager walked by.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To reduce in quantity or worth
The bad news will sink markets around the world.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To debase the nature of; degrade
The scandal has sunk him in the eyes of many.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy
Loss of advertising sank the newspaper.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To suppress or hide
He sank his arrogance and apologized.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(Informal) To defeat, as in a game.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To invest or spend, often without getting a return or adequate value
I've sunk a lot of money into that car.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To pay off (a debt).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A cesspool.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A sinkhole.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A place regarded as wicked and corrupt
That city is a sink of corruption.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To move or be moved into something.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(ergative) To descend or submerge (or to cause to do so) into a liquid or similar substance.
A stone sinks in water.
The sun gradually sank in the west.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(transitive) To (directly or indirectly) cause a vessel to sink, generally by making it no longer watertight.
An iceberg sank the Titanic.
British battleships sank the Bismarck.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(transitive) To push (something) into something.
The joint will hold tighter if you sink a wood screw through both boards.
The dog sank its teeth into the delivery man's leg.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(transitive) To make by digging or delving.
To sink a well in the ground
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To pot; hit a ball into a pocket or hole.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To diminish or be diminished.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To experience apprehension, disappointment, dread, or momentary depression.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To cause to decline; to depress or degrade.
To sink one's reputation
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(intransitive) To demean or lower oneself; to do something below one's status, standards, or morals.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To conceal and appropriate.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To drink (especially something alcoholic).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To pay absolutely.
I have sunk thousands of pounds into this project.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To reduce or extinguish by payment.
To sink the national debt
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(intransitive) To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fail in strength.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To die.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(intransitive) To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A basin used for holding water for washing.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A drain for carrying off wastewater.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(geology) A sinkhole.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A depression in land where water collects, with no visible outlet.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A heat sink.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A place that absorbs resources or energy.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(ecology) A habitat that cannot support a population on its own but receives the excess of individuals from some other source.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(uncountable) Descending motion; descent.
An excessive sink rate at touchdown can cause the aircraft's landing gear to collapse.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(baseball) The motion of a sinker pitch.
Jones has a two-seamer with heavy sink.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

An object or callback that captures events; an event sink.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(graph theory) A destination vertex in a transportation network.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

An abode of degraded persons; a wretched place.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A depression in a stereotype plate.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(theater) A stage trapdoor for shifting scenery.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(mining) An excavation smaller than a shaft.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(game development) One or several systems that remove currency from the game's economy, thus controlling or preventing inflation.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west.
I sink in deep mire.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate.
The stone sunk into his forehead.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
He sunk down in his chariot.
Let not the fire sink or slacken.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.
The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a fluid; as, to sink a ship.
[The Athenians] fell upon the wings and sank a single ship.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Figuratively: To cause to decline; to depress; to degrade; hence, to ruin irretrievably; to destroy, as by drowping; as, to sink one's reputation.
I raise of sink, imprison or set free.
If I have a conscience, let it sink me.
Thy cruel and unnatural lust of powerHas sunk thy father more than all his years.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To make (a depression) by digging, delving, or cutting, etc.; as, to sink a pit or a well; to sink a die.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To bring low; to reduce in quantity; to waste.
You sunk the river repeated draughts.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To conseal and appropriate.
If sent with ready money to buy anything, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore.
A courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; - called also sink hole.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

The lowest part of a natural hollow or closed basin whence the water of one or more streams escapes by evaporation; as, the sink of the Humboldt River.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

(technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system;
The ocean is a sink for carbon dioxide
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A depression in the ground communicating with a subterranean passage (especially in limestone) and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Fall or drop to a lower place or level;
He sank to his knees
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Cause to sink;
The Japanese sank American ships in Pearl Harbor
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Pass into a specified state or condition;
He sank into Nirvana
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Go under,
The raft sank and its occupants drowned
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Descend into or as if into some soft substance or place;
He sank into bed
She subsided into the chair
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Appear to move downward;
The sun dipped below the horizon
The setting sun sank below the tree line
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly;
The real estate market fell off
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Fall or sink heavily;
He slumped onto the couch
My spirits sank
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

Embed deeply;
She sank her fingers into the soft sand
He buried his head in her lap
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 26, 2023

Sink

A plumbing fixture used for washing.
Please wash the dishes in the sink.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

A basin with a drain and faucet.
The sink in the workshop is made of stainless steel.
Sara Rehman
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

A bowl-shaped vessel for holding water.
Fill the sink with warm water.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Sink

A depression or hole formed by sinking.
The sinkhole is widening.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

FAQs

Can "sink" function as a verb?

Yes, "sink" can also be a verb meaning to descend or submerge.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

What is a "washbasin"?

A "washbasin" is a basin with a faucet and drain, primarily used for washing hands and face.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Can "washbasin" function as a verb?

No, "washbasin" is solely a noun.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 19, 2023

What is a "sink"?

A "sink" is a plumbing fixture with a basin, faucet, and drain used for various washing activities.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Where are sinks typically found?

Sinks are commonly found in kitchens, utility rooms, and workshops.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023

Where are washbasins typically found?

Washbasins are generally found in bathrooms.
Janet White
Sep 19, 2023

Can sinks have added features?

Yes, some sinks come with added features like garbage disposals.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023

Are washbasins complex in design?

Generally, washbasins are simpler in design compared to sinks.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

What materials are washbasins commonly made of?

Washbasins are usually made of porcelain or ceramic.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

What materials are sinks commonly made of?

Sinks can be made of stainless steel, ceramic, and composite materials.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Are sinks only for washing hands?

No, sinks can be used for various activities including washing dishes and laundry.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Are washbasins used for dishes?

No, washbasins are not designed for washing dishes.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 19, 2023

Do all washbasins have drains?

Yes, washbasins come with drains to allow water to flow out.
Janet White
Sep 19, 2023

Do all sinks have faucets?

Almost all sinks come with faucets, but some may require separate installation.
Janet White
Sep 19, 2023

Can "sink" and "washbasin" be used interchangeably?

They can sometimes be used interchangeably, but "sink" is more general and "washbasin" is more specialized.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 19, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera Saeed
Sumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.

Trending Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

New Comparisons