plunge
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
plunges;
plunged;
plunging
plunges;
plunged;
plunging
Britannica Dictionary definition of PLUNGE
[no object]
1
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to fall or jump suddenly from a high place
-
Her car plunged off a bridge.
-
He plunged [=dove] into the pool.
-
The rocket plunged [=plummeted] toward the Earth.
-
The parachute failed to open, and the jumper plunged to her death. [=died from her fall]
2
:
to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc.
:
plummet
-
The stock market plunged yesterday.
-
The President's approval rating has plunged to 20 percent.
-
The moose population has plunged in recent years.
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to have a steep slope or drop downward
-
The rocky cliffs plunge into the swirling rapids below.
-
The road plunges down the mountain.
plunge in/into
[phrasal verb]
1
plunge (something) in
or
plunge (something) into (something)
:
to push (something) into (something) quickly and forcefully
-
The nurse grabbed his arm and plunged the needle in.
-
He plunged the knife into the cake.
-
I plunged the sponge into the bucket of water.
-
He plunged his hands into his pockets.
2
plunge in
or
plunge into (something)
:
to start doing (something) with enthusiasm and energy
-
It was a big project, so we all just had to plunge in [=dive in] and get started.
-
She plunged (right) into the assignment.
3
a
plunge into (something)
:
to suddenly begin to be in (a particular and usually bad condition or situation)
-
He plunged into a severe depression.
b
plunge (someone or something) into (something)
:
to cause (someone or something) to suddenly be in (a particular condition or situation)
-
A series of bad management decisions had plunged the company into debt.
-
The author plunges his readers into a world of fantasy.
-
The museum was recently plunged into scandal when it was learned that some of its art had been sold on the black market.
-
The city was plunged into darkness. [=the city suddenly became dark]
2
plunge
/ˈplʌnʤ/
noun
plural
plunges
2
plunge
/ˈplʌnʤ/
noun
plural
plunges
Britannica Dictionary definition of PLUNGE
[count]
1
:
a sudden fall or jump usually from a high place
-
Amazingly, the cat survived its plunge from the building's roof.
2
:
a sudden quick fall in amount, value, etc.
-
Market analysts predicted a price plunge.
-
The store experienced a sharp plunge in sales.
3
:
the act of suddenly beginning to be in a particular condition or situation
— usually + into
-
his plunge into severe depression
-
A series of bad management decisions are responsible for the company's plunge into debt.
take the plunge
informal
:
to do something after thinking about it especially for a long time
-
We've been thinking of buying a new car, and yesterday we finally took the plunge. [=we bought a new car]
-
They're talking about marriage, but they don't know if they're ready to take the plunge.
