plunge
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English plungen, ploungen, Anglo-Norman plungier, from Old French plongier, (Modern French plonger), from unattested Late Latin frequentative *plumbicō (“to throw a leaded line”), from plumbum (“lead”). Compare plumb, plounce.
Verb
plunge (third-person singular simple present plunges, present participle plunging, simple past and past participle plunged)
- (transitive) To thrust into liquid, or into any penetrable substance; to immerse.
- to plunge the body into water
- (figuratively, transitive) To cast, stab or throw into some thing, state, condition or action.
- to plunge a dagger into the breast
- to plunge a nation into war
- the city was plunged into darkness
- 2019 May 19, Alex McLevy, “The final Game Of Thrones brings a pensive but simple meditation about stories (newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 22 May 2019:
- Jon isn’t lying when he tells her she will always be his queen, right before plunging a knife into her. He genuinely swore obedience, and sees himself as a traitor when he commits the deeds.
- (transitive, obsolete) To baptize by immersion.
- (intransitive) To dive, leap or rush (into water or some liquid); to submerge oneself.
- he plunged into the river
- (figuratively, intransitive) To fall or rush headlong into some thing, action, state or condition.
- to plunge into debt
- to plunge into controversy
- profits plunge 90%
- 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
- The day was cool and snappy for August, and the Rise all green with a lavish nature. Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet: […] .
- (intransitive) To pitch or throw oneself headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.
- 1648, J[oseph] Hall, chapter LXXXVI, in Select Thoughts: Or, Choice Helps for a Pious Spirit. […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Brooke, […], published 1654, →OCLC, pages 249–250:
- [N]ature affects a looſe kinde of liberty, vvhich it cannot indure to have reſtrained: neither fares it othervviſe vvith it, then vvith ſome vvilde colt; which at the firſt taking up, flings and plunges, and vvill ſtand on no ground; but after it hath been ſomvvhile diſciplin'd at the Poſt, is grovvn tractable, and quietly ſubmits either to the ſaddle, or the collar: […]
- (intransitive, slang) To bet heavily and recklessly; to risk large sums in gambling.
- (intransitive, obsolete) To entangle or embarrass (mostly used in past participle).
- 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
- Plunged and gravelled with three lines of Seneca.
- (intransitive, obsolete) To overwhelm, overpower.
Derived terms
Translations
to thrust into water, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse
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(figuratively, transitive) to cast or throw into some thing, state, condition or action
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(intransitive) to dive, leap or rush (into water or some liquid); to submerge oneself
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(figuratively, intransitive) to fall or rush headlong into some thing, action, state or condition
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(intransitive) to pitch or throw oneself headlong or violently forward, as a horse does
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Noun
plunge (plural plunges)
- The act of plunging or submerging.
- A dive, leap, rush, or pitch into (into water).
- to take the water with a plunge
- A plunge into the sea
- (dated) A swimming pool.
- (figuratively) The act of pitching or throwing oneself headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
- (slang) Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation.
- Synonym: plunger
- (obsolete) An immersion in difficulty, embarrassment, or distress; the condition of being surrounded or overwhelmed; a strait; difficulty.
Translations
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
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Etymology 2
Back-formation from plunger.
Verb
plunge (third-person singular simple present plunges, present participle plunging, simple past and past participle plunged)
- (transitive) To remove a blockage by suction.
- to plunge a toilet
References
- “plunge”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “plunge”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000. - “plunge n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present
