plunge

[ pluhnj ]

/ plʌndʒ /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR plunge ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), plunged, plung·ing.

to cast or thrust forcibly or suddenly into something, as a liquid, a penetrable substance, a place, etc.; immerse; submerge: to plunge a dagger into one's heart.

to bring suddenly or forcibly into some condition, situation, etc.: to plunge a country into war; to pull a switch and plunge a house into darkness.

Horticulture. to place (a potted plant) up to its rim in soil or in certain other materials, as sand or moss.

Surveying. to transit (the telescope of a transit or theodolite).

verb (used without object), plunged, plung·ing.

to cast oneself, or fall as if cast, into water, a hole, etc.

to rush or dash with headlong haste: to plunge through a crowd.

to bet or speculate recklessly: to plunge on the stock market.

to throw oneself impetuously or abruptly into some condition, situation, matter, etc.: to plunge into debt.

to descend abruptly or precipitously, as a cliff, road, etc.

to pitch violently forward, as a horse, ship, etc.

noun

act of plunging.

a leap or dive, as into water.

a headlong or impetuous rush or dash: a plunge into danger.

a sudden, violent pitching movement.

a place for plunging or diving, as a swimming pool.

Geology. pitch¹(def 45).

Nearby words

plumule, plumulose, plumy, plunder, plunderage, plunge, plunge basin, plunge bath, plunge pool, plunger, plunging fire

Idioms

take the plunge, to enter with sudden decision upon an unfamiliar course of action, as after hesitation or deliberation: She took the plunge and invested her entire savings in the plan.

Origin of plunge

1325–75; Middle English < Middle French plung(i)er ≪ Vulgar Latin *plumbicāre to heave the lead. See plumb

SYNONYMS FOR plunge

5 dive.

6 hasten.

9 drop.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR plunge ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

re·plunge, verb, re·plunged, re·plung·ing; nounun·plunged, adjective

Synonym study

1. See dip¹.

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

Examples from the Web for plunge

Cocker, for his part, worked briefly as an apprentice gasfitter but decided to take the plunge into the world of commercial music.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And nobody expected oil prices to plunge so quickly, either.
How Crimea Crashed the Russian Economy|Anna Nemtsova|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, with good ideas in the air, we plunge into one of the knottier sections of the story.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The vote on Sunday could take Ukraine toward a modern functioning democracy or plunge it back into a cesspool of corruption.
Ukraine’s Wild and Wooly Elections|Anna Nemtsova|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Stewart took the plunge in response to Matt Lauer's televised Today Show challenge.
The Ice Bucket Challenge: Celebrities Promote ALS Awareness, Washboard Abs|Amy Zimmerman|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this feeling, which supported me in the commencement of my career, now serves only to plunge me lower in the dust.
Frankenstein|Mary Shelley
He braced his frame like one preparing for a plunge into cold waters.
The Woman in Black|Edmund Clerihew Bentley
So I ordered two or three of my best swimmers to strip and be ready to plunge into the river.
Life in an Indian Outpost|Gordon Casserly
It is most pleasant when the waters close over your head and you plunge to the bottom.
Children's Classics In Dramatic Form|Augusta Stevenson
Joe twisted his mustache, eyed her aslant and took the plunge.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for plunge

plunge

/ (plʌndʒ) /

verb

(usually foll by into) to thrust or throw (something, oneself, etc)they plunged into the sea

to throw or be thrown into a certain state or conditionthe room was plunged into darkness

(usually foll by into) to involve or become involved deeply (in)he plunged himself into a course of Sanskrit

(intr) to move or dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity

(intr) to descend very suddenly or steeplythe ship plunged in heavy seas; a plunging neckline

(intr) informal to speculate or gamble recklessly, for high stakes, etc

noun

a leap or dive as into water

informal a swim; dip

mainly US a place where one can swim or dive, such as a swimming pool

a headlong rusha plunge for the exit

a pitching or tossing motion

take the plunge informal

to resolve to do something dangerous or irrevocable
to get married

Word Origin for plunge

C14: from Old French plongier, from Vulgar Latin plumbicāre (unattested) to sound with a plummet, from Latin plumbum lead

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

Idioms and Phrases with plunge

plunge

see take the plunge.

plunge

verb (used with object), plunged, plung·ing.

verb (used without object), plunged, plung·ing.

noun

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Idioms

Origin of plunge

SYNONYMS FOR plunge

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for plunge

British Dictionary definitions for plunge

plunge

verb

noun

Word Origin for plunge

Idioms and Phrases with plunge

plunge