lunge

1
[ luhnj ]
See synonyms for: lungelungedlunging on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a sudden forward thrust, as with a sword or knife; stab.

  2. any sudden forward movement; plunge.

verb (used without object),lunged, lung·ing.
  1. to make a lunge or thrust; move with a lunge.

verb (used with object),lunged, lung·ing.
  1. to thrust (something) forward; cause to move with a lunge: lunging his finger accusingly.

Origin of lunge

1
1725–35; earlier longe for French allonge (noun; construed as a longe), allonger (v.) to lengthen, extend, deliver (blows) <Vulgar Latin *allongāre, for Late Latin ēlongāre to elongate

Other words for lunge

Words that may be confused with lunge

Other definitions for lunge (2 of 2)

lunge2
[ luhnj ]

noun, verb,lunged, lung·ing.

Origin of lunge

2
Variant of longe<French; see longe, lune2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lunge in a sentence

  • The Esperanza tore onward, lunging violently, and shaking as though she dreaded the grip of some savage pursuer.

    The Chequers | James Runciman
  • Mayo accosted the captain when that fuming gentleman came lunging along the sidewalk.

    Blow The Man Down | Holman Day
  • "It's a scalp, lieutenant," shouted the foremost sergeant as he came lunging up to join his chief.

    Warrior Gap | Charles King
  • I heard the shouts of Cudjo, and I could see the blade of his long spear lunging down a intervals among the dark bodies below.

    The Desert Home | Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for lunge (1 of 2)

lunge1

/ (lʌndʒ) /


noun
  1. a sudden forward motion

  2. fencing a thrust made by advancing the front foot and straightening the back leg, extending the sword arm forwards

verb
  1. to move or cause to move with a lunge

  2. (intr) fencing to make a lunge

Origin of lunge

1
C18: shortened form of obsolete C17 allonge, from French allonger to stretch out (one's arm), from Late Latin ēlongāre to lengthen. Compare elongate

Derived forms of lunge

  • lunger, noun

British Dictionary definitions for lunge (2 of 2)

lunge2

/ (lʌndʒ) /


noun
  1. a rope used in training or exercising a horse

verb
  1. (tr) to exercise or train (a horse) on a lunge

Origin of lunge

2
C17: from Old French longe, shortened from allonge, ultimately from Latin longus long 1; related to lunge 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012