power dive

¹ American  

noun

Aeronautics.

1. a dive, especially a steep dive, by an aircraft in which the engine or engines are delivering thrust at or near full power.

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power-dive ² American  

[pou-er-dahyv] / ˈpaʊ ərˌdaɪv /

verb (used with or without object)

Aeronautics.

power-dived, power-dove, power-dived, power-diving

1. to cause to perform or to perform a power dive.

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power dive British  

noun

1. a steep dive by an aircraft with its engines at high power

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verb

1. to cause (an aircraft) to perform a power dive or (of an aircraft) to perform a power dive

Etymology

Origin of power dive¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Origin of power-dive²

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Fainthearts who swoon on Ferris wheels and feel dizzy when an elevator drops should keep away from this power dive into the problems of training college boys to be airmen.

From Time Magazine Archive

One of the commonest reactions was a sharp power dive into the grass.

From Time Magazine Archive

Gripped in my hand as we went through the power dive and pullout was a 4-oz. lead sinker of the kind used by bottom fishermen.

From Time Magazine Archive

Suddenly the leader went into a power dive and pointed directly where I was standing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mars snarled, breathed smoke and made a power dive.

From Pagan Passions by Stanley, Robert