dive

[ dahyv ]

/ daɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dive ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), dived or dove, dived, div·ing.

to plunge into water, especially headfirst.

to go below the surface of the water, as a submarine.

to plunge, fall, or descend through the air, into the earth, etc.: The acrobats dived into nets.

Aeronautics. (of an airplane) to descend rapidly.

to penetrate suddenly into something, as with the hand: to dive into one's purse.

to dart: to dive into a doorway.

to enter deeply or plunge into a subject, activity, etc.

verb (used with object), dived or dove, dived, div·ing.

to cause to plunge, submerge, or descend.

to insert quickly; plunge: He dived his hand into his pocket.

noun

an act or instance of diving.

a jump or plunge into water, especially in a prescribed way from a diving board.

the vertical or nearly vertical descent of an airplane at a speed surpassing the possible speed of the same plane in level flight.

a submerging, as of a submarine or skindiver.

a dash, plunge, or lunge, as if throwing oneself at or into something: He made a dive for the football.

a sudden or sharp decline, as in stock prices.

Informal. a dingy or disreputable bar or nightclub.

Boxing. a false show of being knocked out, usually in a bout whose result has been prearranged: to take a dive in an early round.

Nearby words

divalproex sodium, divan, divaricate, divarication, divaricator, dive, dive bomber, dive brake, dive table, dive-bomb, divehi

Origin of dive

before 900; Middle English diven to dive, dip, Old English dȳfan to dip (causative of dūfan to dive, sink); cognate with Old Norse dȳfa dip, German taufen to baptize; akin to dip¹

Related forms

post·dive, adjectivepre·dive, adjectiveun·der·dive, nounun·der·dive, verb (used without object), un·der·dived or un·der·dove, un·der·dived, un·der·div·ing.

Usage note

Both dived and dove are standard as the past tense of dive. Dived, historically the older form, is somewhat more common in edited writing, but dove occurs there so frequently that it also must be considered standard: The rescuer dove into 20 feet of icy water. Dove is an Americanism that probably developed by analogy with alternations like drive, drove and ride, rode. It is the more common form in speech in the northern United States and in Canada, and its use seems to be spreading. The past participle of dive is always dived.

Definition for dive (2 of 2)

diva

[ dee-vuh, -vah ]

/ ˈdi və, -vɑ /

noun, plural di·vas, di·ve [dee-ve] /ˈdi vɛ/.

a distinguished female singer; prima donna.

Origin of diva

1880–85; < Italian < Latin dīva, feminine of dīvus god; cf. divine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dive

Not even after its parent company, the Soviet Union, took a dive in 1991.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We wanted to create a dedicated hub where people can dive into it and get all this commentary on the news.
How Funny or Die Plans to Cover ISIS, Ebola and Elections|Asawin Suebsaeng|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They'd never be allowed to take their clothes off and dive in the way boys do.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq|Nathan Bradley Bethea|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For anyone looking to dive into the big, knotty history of one of the most iconic states, this book is well worth the time.
How Religion Turned Texas Red|William O’Connor|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And while I may have put a bunch of stunt guys in peril on Titanic, it was my ass in the sphere on the dive.
James Cameron Dives into the Ocean's Abyss|Andrew Romano|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To dive into his clothing was a process facilitated by many an artful dodge.
King of Ranleigh|F. S. (Frederick Sadlier) Brereton
He made a dive into a deeper obscurity and I lost him until I heard his knock.
The Jervaise Comedy|J. D. Beresford
She made a dive at me, and before I could escape caught me in her strong young arms and hugged me.
The Crossing|Winston Churchill
As I have said before, the purpose of these dreams is to dive into futurity.
La Ronge Journal, 1823|George Nelson
The mode of operation preparatory to a dive is very peculiar and interesting.
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.|E. Rameur

British Dictionary definitions for dive (1 of 2)

dive

/ (daɪv) /

verb dives, diving or dived or US dove or dived (mainly intr)

to plunge headfirst into water

(of a submarine, swimmer, etc) to submerge under water

(also tr) to fly (an aircraft) in a steep nose-down descending path, or (of an aircraft) to fly in such a path

to rush, go, or reach quickly, as in a headlong plungehe dived for the ball

(also tr; foll by in or into) to dip or put (one's hand) quickly or forcefully (into)to dive into one's pocket

(usually foll by in or into) to involve oneself (in something), as in eating food

soccer slang (of a footballer) to pretend to have been tripped or impeded by an opposing player in order to win a free kick or penalty

noun

a headlong plunge into water, esp one of several formalized movements executed as a sport

an act or instance of diving

a steep nose-down descent of an aircraft

slang a disreputable or seedy bar or club

boxing slang the act of a boxer pretending to be knocked down or outhe took a dive in the fourth round

soccer slang the act of a player pretending to have been tripped or impeded

Word Origin for dive

Old English dӯfan; related to Old Norse dӯfa to dip, Frisian dīvi; see deep, dip

British Dictionary definitions for dive (2 of 2)

diva

/ (ˈdiːvə) /

noun plural -vas or -ve (-vɪ)

a highly distinguished female singer; prima donna

Word Origin for diva

C19: via Italian from Latin: a goddess, from dīvus divine

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