dive Definition
dive (dīv)
intransitive verb dived or dove, dived, div′·ing
- to plunge headfirst into water
- to go underwater; submerge, as a submarine or skin diver
- to plunge the hand or body suddenly into something to dive into a foxhole
- to bring oneself zestfully or with abandon into something to dive into one's work
- to make a steep, sudden descent or take a sudden drop, as an airplane
Etymology: ME diven < OE dyfan, to immerse, caus. of dufan, to dive, akin to ON dȳfa, to plunge, dūfa, a wave < IE base *dheup-, deep
transitive verb
- to cause to dive; specif., to send (one's airplane) into a dive
- Archaic to explore or penetrate by or as by diving
noun
- a plunge into water headfirst; esp., any of various formalized plunges performed as in a competition
- any sudden plunge or submersion
- a sharp descent or sudden drop, as of an airplane
- Informal a cheap, disreputable saloon, gambling place, etc.
- Football a play in which a running back carries the ball while plunging directly into the line a short distance away
dive Idioms
take a dive
☆Slang to lose a prizefight purposely by pretending to get knocked out
dive Synonyms
dive
n.
A sudden motion downward
plunge, leap, spring, nosedive, headlong leap, headlong jump, pitch, ducking, swoop, dip, cannonball, jackknife, swan dive, header*, belly-flop*, belly-whopper*; see also fall 1, jump 1.*An establishment offering accommodation
bar, saloon, pub, café, cabaret, hotel, motel, pizza parlor, tavern, inn, club, casino, pool hall, billiard parlor, bowling alley, nightclub, diner, coffeehouse, dancehall, hamburger joint, joint*, dump*, dine and dance*, flophouse*, fleabag*, hole*, hangout*; see also bar 2, casino, restaurant.
dive Synonyms
dive
v.
dive Usage Examples
Object
- wreck: May 1999 Dive Details Dived a nearby wreck which is very probably the Loyalty.
- sump: Tony had decided to dive the upstream sump first because it seemed to promise the most likely breakthrough into dry passage.
- reef: Once you have passed this you are able to join the twice-daily dive expeditions or opt to dive the house reef off the beach.
Preposition: on
wreck: Dive Six We dived on the wreck of the Kai Sai, opposite Flic en Flac.
Converse of object
despair: Robinson ran onto the ball, looked up, picked his spot and in it went, past the despairing dive of Allcock.
Adjective modifier
- shallow: We suited up, entered the water and began a shallow dive following the reef along the cliff.
- scenic: The Scilly Isles offers a great combination of wrecks and scenic dives.
- slack: The area is swept by strong tidal currents making this site a slack water dive.
Modifies a noun
- boat: No dive boats run out of Auckland: they depart from Leigh, about an hour's drive north.
- bomber: She is firing madly with all her AA batteries at a group of dive bombers which had sneaked through in the commotion.
- buddy: He should tell his dive buddy of his past condition tho, just to be on the safe side.
Noun used with modifier
- scuba: Tourists like to scuba dive in the sea looking at all of the coral.
- drift: It is a nice gentle drift dive with rocky shelves that are set at about every 5 meters.
- wreck: This is a very nice beginners wreck dive with the occasional seal swimming around.
- liveaboard: The island is visited by a number of liveaboard dive boats coming to dive its walls but it's also possible to be land-based.
- shore: We insisted on a shore dive form the resort's beach.
- seasearch: You can carry out Seasearch dives with your club, your buddy or on organized Seasearch dive weekends and longer expeditions.
Preposition: in
Maldive: I've been diving for 16 years and have done a lot of dives in the Maldives and this trip didn't disappoint.
Preposition: with
Browse dictionary entries near dive
- ‹ divaricator
- ‹ divarication
- ‹ divaricate
- ‹ divan
- ‹ divalent
- ‹ divagate
- ‹ diva
- ‹ div
- ‹ diurnal wander
- ‹ diurnal
- dive bomber ›
- diver ›
- diverge ›
- divergence ›
- divergent ›
- divers ›
- diverse ›
- diversification ›
- diversified ›
- diversify ›

