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dive Definition

dive (dīv)

intransitive verb dived or dove, dived, div′·ing

  1. to plunge headfirst into water
  2. to go underwater; submerge, as a submarine or skin diver
  3. to plunge the hand or body suddenly into something to dive into a foxhole
  4. to bring oneself zestfully or with abandon into something to dive into one's work
  5. 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

  1. to cause to dive; specif., to send (one's airplane) into a dive
  2. Archaic to explore or penetrate by or as by diving

noun

  1. a plunge into water headfirst; esp., any of various formalized plunges performed as in a competition
  2. any sudden plunge or submersion
  3. a sharp descent or sudden drop, as of an airplane
  4. Informal a cheap, disreputable saloon, gambling place, etc.
  5. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. *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.

plunge, spring, jump, vault, leap, go headfirst, plummet, sink, dip, duck, plumb, submerge, disappear, vanish, nose-dive, break water, take a header*; see also fall 1, jump 1.

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

  • shark: Blue Planet is also the only aquarium in England where you can dive with the sharks.
  • buddy: From then on the groups were split up and I dived with buddy Dave with no more ' Poseidon Adventure ' style interruptions.

Browse dictionary entries near dive

  1. ‹ divaricator
  2. ‹ divarication
  3. ‹ divaricate
  4. ‹ divan
  5. ‹ divalent
  6. ‹ divagate
  7. ‹ diva
  8. ‹ div
  9. ‹ diurnal wander
  10. ‹ diurnal
  1. dive bomber ›
  2. diver ›
  3. diverge ›
  4. divergence ›
  5. divergent ›
  6. divers ›
  7. diverse ›
  8. diversification ›
  9. diversified ›
  10. diversify ›