plunge

plunge¹ [plʌndʒ] v

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: plongier, from Vulgar Latin plumbicare, from Latin plumbum 'lead']

1.) [I,T always + adverb/preposition]

to move, fall, or be thrown suddenly forwards or downwards

plunge off/into etc

▪ Her car swerved and plunged off the cliff.

▪ Both the climbers had plunged to their deaths .

2.)

if a price, rate etc plunges, it suddenly decreases by a large amount

▪ The unemployment rate plunged sharply.

plunge to

▪ Oil prices have plunged to a new low .

▪ In the recession, the company's profits plunged 60%.

3.) [I] [i]literary

if a ship plunges, it moves violently up and down because of big waves

plunge in phr v

1.) to start talking or doing something quickly and confidently, especially without thinking about it first

▪ It's a difficult situation. You can't just plunge in and put everything right.

▪ 'I don't agree,' she said, plunging into the conversation.

2.) to jump or ↑dive into water

▪ He stripped off and plunged into the sea.

3.) plunge sth<=>in also plunge sth into sth

to push something firmly and deeply into something else

▪ He open the bag and plunged his hand in.

▪ Plunge the pasta into boiling water.

▪ Repeatedly she plunged the knife into his chest.

plunge (/) into [plunge (sb/sth) into sth] phr v

to suddenly experience a difficult or unpleasant situation, or to make someone or something do this

▪ A strike would plunge the country into chaos.

▪ The house was suddenly plunged into darkness .

▪ After the war, the family plunged into debt.

plunge ²

plunge² n

1.) take the plunge

to decide to do something important or risky, especially after thinking about it for a long time

▪ We took the plunge and set up our own business.

2.)

a sudden large decrease in the price, value etc of something

plunge in

▪ a dramatic plunge in house prices

3.) [C usually singular]

a sudden movement down or forwards

▪ The plane began a headlong plunge towards the Earth.

4.) [C usually singular]

when someone suddenly becomes involved in something new

plunge into

▪ his sudden plunge into marriage

5.) [C usually singular]

a jump or ↑dive into water, or a quick swim

plunge in/into

▪ a quick plunge in the lake