Lexic.us

Definition of Plunge

1. Noun. A brief swim in water.

2. Verb. Thrust or throw into. "They plunge the object in the water"; "Immerse yourself in hot water"

3. Noun. A steep and rapid fall.

4. Verb. Drop steeply. "The stock market is going to plunge "; "The stock market plunged"

5. Verb. Dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity. "She plunged at it eagerly"

6. Verb. Begin with vigor. "She plunged into a dangerous adventure"

7. Verb. Cause to be immersed. "The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text"

8. Verb. Fall abruptly. "It plunged to the bottom of the well"

9. Verb. Immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate. "Dip the brush into the paint"

10. Verb. Devote (oneself) fully to. "He immersed himself into his studies"

Definition of Plunge

1. v. t. 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.

2. v. i. 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.

3. n. 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.

Definition of Plunge

1. Noun. the act of plunging or submerging ¹

2. Noun. a dive, leap, rush, or pitch into (into water) ¹

3. Noun. (figuratively) the act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse ¹

4. Noun. (slang) heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation ¹

5. Noun. (obsolete) an immersion in difficulty, embarrassment, or distress; the condition of being surrounded or overwhelmed; a strait; difficulty ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) to thrust into water, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse; ¹

7. Verb. (figuratively transitive) to cast or throw into some thing, state, condition or action ¹

8. Verb. (transitive, obsolete) to baptize by immersion ¹

9. Verb. (intransitive) to dive, leap or rush (into water or some liquid); to submerge one's self ¹

10. Verb. (figuratively intransitive) to fall or rush headlong into some thing, action, state or condition ¹

11. Verb. (intransitive) to pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does ¹

12. Verb. (intransitive slang) to bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations ¹

13. Verb. (intransitive obsolete) to entangle or embarrass (mostly used in past participle) ¹

14. Verb. (intransitive obsolete) to overwhelm, overpower ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Plunge

1. to throw or thrust suddenly or forcibly into something [v PLUNGED, PLUNGING, PLUNGES]

Medical Definition of Plunge

1. 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." "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. "Plunged and graveled with three lines of Seneca." (Sir T. Browne) Origin: OE. Ploungen, OF. Plongier, F. Plonger, fr. (assumed) LL. Plumbicare, fr. L. Plumbum lead. See Plumb. 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. "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. Plunge bath, an immersion by plunging; also, a large bath in which the bather can wholly immerse himself. 5. Plunge, or plunging, battery, a voltaic battery so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Plunge

plumule plumules plumulose plumy plunder plunderable plunderage plundered plunderer plunderers

plunderfish plunderfishes plundering plunderous plunders plunge (current term) plunge bra plunge waterfall plunge waterfalls plunged

plunger plunger mute plungerlike plungers plunges plunging plungingly plungings plunk plunk down

Literary usage of Plunge

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Life of Charles Dickens by John Forster (1874)
"Quite dis- Question of the plunge. ' miss from your mind any reference whatever to present ' circumstances at home. Nothing can put them right, ..."

2. Manual of Serum Diagnosis: Deep Breathing and a Complete System for by Bernarr Macfadden, Otto Rostoski (1904)
"... BATHS NEEDED ONLY FOR KEEPING THE BODY PERFECTLY CLEAN AND WHOLESOME—COLD BATH A RARE TONIC—VALUE OF plunge AND SHOWER BATHS —PROPER TIME TO TAKE BATH. ..."

3. Methods of Practical Hygiene by Karl Bernhard Lehmann (1893)
"Appearance of the gelatine plunge-culture, examination of colour, odour, liquefaction of gelatine, manner and rapidity of growth. ..."

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