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Plunge   /pləndʒ/   Listen
noun
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." "And with thou not reach out a friendly arm, To raise me from amidst this plunge of sorrows?"
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Plunge battery, or plunging battery (Elec.), a voltaic battery so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.


verb
Plunge  v. t.  (past & past part. plunged; pres. part. plunging)  
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." "Bound and plunged him into a cell." "We shall be plunged into perpetual errors."
2.
To baptize by immersion.
3.
To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome. (Obs.) "Plunged and graveled with three lines of Seneca."


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." "To plunge into guilt of a murther."
2.
To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently forward, as a horse does. "Some wild colt, which... flings and plunges."
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.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Plunge" Quotes from Famous Books



... inquiry was struck by the expression of Derues' countenance and by this half answer, which appeared to hide a mystery and to aim at diverting attention by offering a bait to curiosity. He might have stopped Derues at the moment when he sought to plunge into a tortuous argument, and compelled him to answer with the same clearness and decision which distinguished Monsieur de Lamotte's question; but he reflected that the latter's inquiries, unforeseen, hasty, and passionate, were perhaps more likely to disconcert a prepared defence ...
— CELEBRATED CRIMES, COMPLETE - DERUES • ALEXANDRE DUMAS, PERE
... of the breaking pitcher and Mary's wild plunge back into bed, Joyce sat up in alarm, but in response to her whisper Mary explained in muffled tones from under the bedclothes that she had simply gotten up for a drink of water and dropped the pitcher. All the rest of the night her sleep was fitful and ...
— The Little Colonel: Maid of Honor • Annie Fellows Johnston
... bought a morning paper from a tiny newsboy, who held his complete attire under one arm, his papers under the other, and his pennies in his mouth, keeping meantime a shifty side-glance on the policeman a block away, who might be expected to interfere with his contemplated plunge. ...
— The Spenders - A Tale of the Third Generation • Harry Leon Wilson
... never again to plunge his lurid face beneath the waves of old Ocean? Had some latter-day Joshua arisen, and with stern fiat nailed him in mid-heavens, blazing forever? To me as slowly rolled the westering orb down that final slope as ever turned the wheel of Fortune to Murad ...
— The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 85, November, 1864 • Various
... will, I dare say, make another plunge when he finds Claremont will not be at his personal disposal, as ...
— A Political Diary 1828-1830, Volume II • Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough)


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