Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Plunge?

\Plunge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plunged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plunging}.] [OE. ploungen, OF. plongier, F. plonger, fr. (assumed) LL. plumbicare, fr. L. plumbum lead. See {Plumb}.] 1. 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. ``To plunge the boy in pleasing sleep.'' --Dryden. Bound and plunged him into a cell. --Tennyson. We shall be plunged into perpetual errors. --I. Watts. 2. To baptize by immersion. 3. To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome. [Obs.] Plunged and graveled with three lines of Seneca. --Sir T. Browne.
\Plunge\, v. i. 1. 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. Forced to plunge naked in the raging sea. --Dryden. To plunge into guilt of a murther. --Tillotson. 2. To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does. Some wild colt, which . . . flings and plunges. --Bp. Hall. 3. To bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in hazardous speculations. [Cant] {Plunging fire} (Gun.), firing directed upon an enemy from an elevated position.
\Plunge\, n. 1. 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. 2. Hence, a desperate hazard or act; a state of being submerged or overwhelmed with difficulties. [R.] She was brought to that plunge, to conceal her husband's murder or accuse her son. --Sir P. Sidney. And with thou not reach out a friendly arm, To raise me from amidst this plunge of sorrows? --Addison. 3. The act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse. 4. Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation. [Cant] {Plunge bath}, an immersion by plunging; also, a large bath in which the bather can wholly immerse himself. {Plunge}, or {plunging}, {battery} (Elec.), a voltaic battery so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.