Plunge
[plʌn(d)ʒ] or [plʌndʒ]
Definition
(noun.) a steep and rapid fall.
(verb.) cause to be immersed; 'The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text'.
(verb.) dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity; 'She plunged at it eagerly'.
(verb.) fall abruptly; 'It plunged to the bottom of the well'.
(verb.) begin with vigor; 'He launched into a long diatribe'; 'She plunged into a dangerous adventure'.
Checker: Sondra--From WordNet
Definition
(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.
(v. t.) To baptize by immersion.
(v. t.) To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome.
(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.
(v. i.) To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
(v. i.) To bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations.
(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.
(n.) Hence, a desperate hazard or act; a state of being submerged or overwhelmed with difficulties.
(n.) The act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
(n.) Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation.
Editor: Luke
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. Immerse, submerge, dip, souse, douse, put under water (or other liquid).
v. n. Dive, pitch, thrust one's self, cast one's self.
n. Dive, dip, ducking.
Editor: Ricky
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Dip, dive, douse, duck, submerge, immerse, precipitate, sink, overwhelm,thrust_under, pitch_headlong
ANT:Emerge, issue, soar, raise, extricate, rescue
Typist: Martha
Definition
v.t. to cast suddenly into water or other fluid: to force suddenly (into): to immerse.—v.i. to sink suddenly into any fluid: to dive: to pitch suddenly forward and throw up the hind-legs as a horse: to rush into any danger: (slang) to gamble recklessly.—n. act of plunging: act of rushing headlong as a horse.—n. Plung′er one who plunges: a diver: a long solid cylinder used as a forcer in pumps: (mil.) a cavalry-man: one who bets heavily.—adj. Plung′ing rushing headlong: aimed from higher ground as fire upon an enemy.—n. the putting or sinking under water or other fluid: the act of a horse trying to throw its rider.—Plunge bath a bath large enough to allow the whole body under water.
Edited by Glenn
Examples
- She wanted to plunge on and on, till she came to the end of the valley of snow. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- At last she took a great resolution--made the great plunge. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- The concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening plunge she hurtled downward through the dark night. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- With a plunge of enjoyment, Fledgeby settled himself afresh. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Better die at once--better plunge a poinard in her bosom, still untouched by drear adversity, and then again sheathe it in my own! Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- A more pronounced illustration is to wet the hands in a basin of water, and then plunge them in the blast of hot, dry air coming from a furnace register. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- I felt as if, from the order of the systematic world, I had plunged into chaos, obscure, contrary, unintelligible. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- A long silence ensued; during which the Jew was plunged in deep thought, with his face wrinkled into an expression of villainy perfectly demoniacal. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Inexperienced in government, she plunged into all manner of useless expenditure, and swamped her treasury almost in a day. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- In experiment 14 an electric light carbon heated to a red heat at its tip, is plunged vertically into a deep glass of liquid oxygen. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Instantly, Clayton, followed by the two old men, plunged into the jungle, calling the girl's name aloud. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- There seems to have been as little reason in the foreign policy that now plunged Europe into a fresh cycle of wars. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Miss Briggs and I are plunged in grief and despondency for the death of our Papa, Rebecca said. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The darkness seemed to be swaying in waves across his mind, great waves of darkness plunging across his mind. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- He was divided entirely between his spirit, which stood outside, and knew, and his body, that was a plunging, unconscious stroke of blood. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- You villain, why do you shrink from plunging into the irretrievable Gazette? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The world was torn in two, and he was plunging like an unlit star through the ineffable rift. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- They went right to the bows of the softly plunging vessel. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Jos succeeded in plunging into the coat, and came forward blushing and stuttering out excuses to his fair visitor. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Then plunging his hands and head into the fountain, he washed from them all marks of the midnight revel. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- If this quantity of water plunges over a 10-ft. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- As a selfish man will impoverish his family and often bring them to ruin, so a selfish king brings ruin on his people and often plunges them into war. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Some people say that the manager just plunges his hand into the heap and takes the first that comes. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Oliver's vigorous plunges against the bit of timber in question, rendered this occurance highly probable. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- The operation was performed amidst the fiercest yells and the most convulsive plunges. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- The torrent, swollen by the melting snow, plunges into a tremendous abyss, from which the spray rolls up like the smoke from a burning house. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- After all, when one was fulfilled, one was happiest in falling into death, as a bitter fruit plunges in its ripeness downwards. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
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