plunge

 
Pronunciation: /plʌn(d)ʒ/

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial] jump or dive quickly and energetically: our little daughters whooped as they plunged into the sea
  • fall suddenly and uncontrollably: a car swerved to avoid a bus and plunged into a ravine
  • (as adjective plunging) denoting a very low-cut neckline on a woman’s garment.
  • embark impetuously on a speech or course of action: he came to a decision, and plunged on before he had time to reconsider it
  • suffer a rapid decrease in value: shares in the company plunged 18p on news that profits had fallen
  • (of a ship) pitch: the ship plunged through the 20-foot seas
  • [no object] (of a horse) rear violently: the frightened horse plunged and bolted
  • 2 [with object and adverbial] push or thrust quickly: he plunged his hands into his pockets
  • quickly immerse in liquid: to peel fruit, cover with boiling water and then plunge them into iced water
  • suddenly bring into a specified condition or state: for a moment the scene was illuminated, then it was plunged back into darkness
  • [with object] sink (a pot containing a plant) in the ground: pot up and plunge spring-flowering bulbs

noun

  • an act of jumping or diving into water: fanatics went straight from the hot room to take a cold plunge
  • a swift and drastic fall in value or amount: the central bank declared a 76% plunge in its profits

Phrases

take the plunge

informal commit oneself to a course of action about which one is nervous: she wondered whether to enter for the race, but decided to take the plunge

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French plungier 'thrust down', based on Latin plumbum 'lead, plummet'