plunging

Variant of plunge

plunge definition

plunge (plunj)

transitive verb plunged, plunging plung′·ing

to thrust, throw, or force suddenly (into a liquid, hole, condition, etc.) to plunge an oar into the water, to plunge a country into debt

Etymology: ME plungen < OFr plongier < VL *plumbicare < L plumbum, lead: see plumb

intransitive verb

  1. to throw oneself, dive, or rush, as into water, a fight, etc.
  2. to move violently and rapidly downward or forward
  3. to pitch, as a ship
  4. to slope steeply, as a road
  5. to extend far down in a revealing way a plunging neckline or back
  6. Informal to spend, gamble, or speculate heavily or rashly

noun

    1. a dive or downward leap
    2. a swim
  2. any sudden, violent plunging motion
  3. a place for plunging, or swimming
  4. Informal a heavy, rash investment or speculation
plunge Idioms

take the plunge

to start on a new and seemingly uncertain enterprise, esp. after some hesitation

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.