plunge

plunge1 [ plʌndʒ ] verb **

1. ) intransitive to fall quickly from a high position:

It was still dark when the helicopter plunged 500 feet into the sea.

His car had plunged off the mountain road in heavy rain.

a ) transitive to make someone or something fall quickly from a high position:

The wind suddenly shifted and they were both plunged off the cliff.

b ) intransitive to slope downward suddenly:

Stone steps plunged down to the basement.

c ) to suddenly put someone or something in a much less successful situation, or to be suddenly put in such a situation:

A string of recent defeats has plunged the team dangerously near the bottom of the table.

2. ) intransitive if an amount or level plunges, it suddenly becomes much lower:

The temperature is expected to plunge below zero tonight.

3. ) transitive AMERICAN to push a PLUNGER into a toilet, SINK, or BATHTUB in order to stop a pipe from being blocked

4. ) intransitive or transitive to move quickly in an uncontrolled way, or to make someone or something move in this way:

He plunged toward the door and wrenched it open.

a ) intransitive if a ship plunges, it moves up and down on water in an uncontrolled way

,plunge `in phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to suddenly start doing something with energy and enthusiasm, but sometimes without thinking about it first:

Your help will not always be appreciated at first, but plunge in anyway.

2. ) transitive to quickly push something a long way into something else:

Luke plunged the needle in deep.

3. ) intransitive to quickly jump or DIVE into water

,plunge `into phrasal verb transitive

1. ) plunge into something to suddenly start doing something with energy and enthusiasm, but sometimes without thinking about it first:

This was not the time to be plunging into some new business venture.

2. ) plunge something into something to quickly push something a long way into something else:

He plunged his arm into the sack once more.

Plunge the sliced onions into boiling water.

3. ) plunge someone/something into something to suddenly put someone or something in a particular state or situation:

The city was plunged into total darkness when the entire electrical system failed.

a ) plunge into something to suddenly get into a particular state or situation:

The country is plunging into recession once more.

4. ) plunge into something to jump or DIVE into water:

Four police officers plunged into freezing water to rescue a man yesterday.

plunge

plunge 2 [ plʌndʒ ] noun count

1. ) a quick fall from a high position:

The network broadcast footage of the plane's plunge into the ocean.

a ) a jump or DIVE into water

2. ) a sudden reduction in the amount or level of something:

plunge in: the plunge in oil prices

take the plunge

to finally do something important, difficult, or dangerous after thinking about it