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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
plunge verb (plunged, plunging) 1 intrans (usually plunge in or into something) to dive, throw oneself, fall or rush headlong in or into it. 2 intrans (usually plunge in or into something) to involve oneself rapidly and enthusiastically. 3 to thrust or push something. 4 tr & intr to put something or someone into a particular state or condition • The power failed and plunged the town into darkness. 5 to dip something briefly into water or other liquid. 6 intrans to dip steeply • The ship plunged and rose. 7 intrans to gamble or squander recklessly. noun 1 an act of plunging; a dive. 2 colloq a dip or swim. 3 geol the inclination of a fold1 axis, measured in the vertical plane. Compare pitch1. take the plunge colloq to commit oneself finally after hesitation; to take an irreversible decision.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French plungier, from an assumed Latin verb plumbicare to heave the lead, from plumbum lead.
plunge verb (plunged, plunging) 1 intrans (usually plunge in or into something) to dive, throw oneself, fall or rush headlong in or into it. 2 intrans (usually plunge in or into something) to involve oneself rapidly and enthusiastically. 3 to thrust or push something. 4 tr & intr to put something or someone into a particular state or condition • The power failed and plunged the town into darkness. 5 to dip something briefly into water or other liquid. 6 intrans to dip steeply • The ship plunged and rose. 7 intrans to gamble or squander recklessly. noun 1 an act of plunging; a dive. 2 colloq a dip or swim. 3 geol the inclination of a fold1 axis, measured in the vertical plane. Compare pitch1. take the plunge colloq to commit oneself finally after hesitation; to take an irreversible decision.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French plungier, from an assumed Latin verb plumbicare to heave the lead, from plumbum lead.
plunge verb (plunged, plunging) 1 intrans (usually plunge in or into something) to dive, throw oneself, fall or rush headlong in or into it. 2 intrans (usually plunge in or into something) to involve oneself rapidly and enthusiastically. 3 to thrust or push something. 4 tr & intr to put something or someone into a particular state or condition • The power failed and plunged the town into darkness. 5 to dip something briefly into water or other liquid. 6 intrans to dip steeply • The ship plunged and rose. 7 intrans to gamble or squander recklessly. noun 1 an act of plunging; a dive. 2 colloq a dip or swim. 3 geol the inclination of a fold1 axis, measured in the vertical plane. Compare pitch1. take the plunge colloq to commit oneself finally after hesitation; to take an irreversible decision.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French plungier, from an assumed Latin verb plumbicare to heave the lead, from plumbum lead.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The Chambers Thesaurus
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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