plunge
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (8)plunges, plunged, plunging
- thrust or throw into“Immerse yourself in hot water”Synonyms: immerseMore general penetrate, perforateMore specific soak, dunk, dip, sheathe, submerge
- drop steeply“the stock market plunged”Synonyms: diveplunkMore general descend, fallMore specific duck, nosedive, chute, power-dive, crash-diveSimilar dump
- dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity“She plunged at it eagerly”More general dart, dashSimilar launch
- begin with vigor“He launched into a long diatribe”“She plunged into a dangerous adventure”Synonyms: launchMore general get down, begin
- cause to be immersed“The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text”Synonyms: immerseMore general change, alterCauses steep, immerseSimilar steep, immerse
- fall abruptly“It plunged to the bottom of the well”Synonyms: dumpMore general dropSimilar dive, plunk
- immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate“dip the garment into the cleaning solution”“dip the brush into the paint”Synonyms: dunkdipsousedouse
- devote (oneself) fully to“He immersed himself into his studies”Synonyms: steepimmerseengulfengrossabsorbsoak up
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. ploungen, OF. plongier, F. plonger, fr. (assumed) LL. plumbicare, fr. L. plumbum lead. See Plumb.
1. To thrust into water, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse; to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly; to thrust; as, to plunge the body into water; to plunge a dagger into the breast. Also used figuratively; as, to plunge a nation into war. “To plunge the boy in pleasing sleep.” John Dryden
Bound and plunged him into a cell.— Alfred Tennyson
We shall be plunged into perpetual errors.— Isaac Watts
2. To baptize by immersion.
3. To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome. obsolete
Plunged and graveled with three lines of Seneca.— Sir Thomas Browne
1. To thrust or cast one's self into water or other fluid; to submerge one's self; to dive, or to rush in; as, he plunged into the river. Also used figuratively; as, to plunge into debt.
Forced to plunge naked in the raging sea.— John Dryden
To plunge into guilt of a murther.— John Tilllotson
2. To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
Some wild colt, which... flings and plunges.— Bp. Joseph Hall
3. To bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations. cant
Plunging fire Gunnery, firing directed upon an enemy from an elevated position.
1. The act of thrusting into or submerging; a dive, leap, rush, or pitch into, or as into, water; as, to take the water with a plunge.
2. Hence, a desperate hazard or act; a state of being submerged or overwhelmed with difficulties. rare
She was brought to that plunge, to conceal her husband's murder or accuse her son.— Sir Philip Sidney
And with thou not reach out a friendly arm, To raise me from amidst this plunge of sorrows?— Joseph Addison
3. The act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
4. Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation. cant
Plunge bath, an immersion by plunging; also, a large bath in which the bather can wholly immerse himself. — Plunge battery, or plunging battery Electricity, a voltaic battery so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54