Definitions for: Plunge


[n] a brief swim in water
[n] a steep and rapid fall
[v] begin with vigor; "He launched into a long diatribe"; "She plunged into a dangerous adventure"
[v] engross (oneself) fully; "He immersed himself into his studies"
[v] cause to be immersed; "The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text"
[v] immerse into a liquid; "dunk the bread into the soup"
[v] Thrust or throw into; "Immerse yourself in the hot water"
[v] dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity; "She plunged at it eagerly"
[v] drop steeply; "the stock market plunged"
[v] fall abruptly; "It plunged to the bottom of the well"



Webster (1913) Definition: Plunge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plunged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Plunging.] [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.'' --Dryden.

Bound and plunged him into a cell. --Tennyson.

We shall be plunged into perpetual errors. --I.
Watts.

2. To baptize by immersion.

3. To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome. [Obs.]

Plunged and graveled with three lines of Seneca.
--Sir T.
Browne.


Plunge, v. i.
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. --Dryden.

To plunge into guilt of a murther. --Tillotson.

2. To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently
forward, as a horse does.

Some wild colt, which . . . flings and plunges.
--Bp. 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 (Gun.), firing directed upon an enemy from an
elevated position.


Plunge, n.
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. [R.]

She was brought to that plunge, to conceal her
husband's murder or accuse her son. --Sir P.
Sidney.

And with thou not reach out a friendly arm, To raise
me from amidst this plunge of sorrows? --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, or plunging, battery (Elec.), a voltaic battery
so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or
withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.

Synonyms: absorb, dip, dip, dive, douse, dunk, engross, engulf, immerse, launch, plunk, soak up, souse, steep

See Also: begin, center, centre, come down, commence, concentrate, crash-dive, dabble, dart, dash, descend, drink, drink in, drop, drop, duck, duck, fall, fall, flash, focus, get, go down, immerse, nosedive, parachute, penetrate, perforate, plunge, pore, power-dive, rivet, scoot, scud, set about, set out, sheathe, shoot, sky dive, soak, sop, start, start out, submerge, submerse, swim, swimming

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