- dive
- dive [dīv]vi.dived or dove, dived, diving [ME diven < OE dyfan, to immerse, caus. of dufan, to dive, akin to ON dȳfa, to plunge, dūfa, a wave < IE base * dheup-, DEEP]1. to plunge headfirst into water2. to go underwater; submerge, as a submarine or skin diver3. to plunge the hand or body suddenly into something [to dive into a foxhole]4. to bring oneself zestfully or with abandon into something [to dive into one's work]5. to make a steep, sudden descent or take a sudden drop, as an airplanevt.1. to cause to dive; specif., to send (one's airplane) into a dive2. Archaic to explore or penetrate by or as by divingn.1. a plunge into water headfirst; esp., any of various formalized plunges performed as in a competition2. any sudden plunge or submersion3. a sharp descent or sudden drop, as of an airplane4. Informal a cheap, disreputable saloon, gambling place, etc.5. Football a play in which a running back carries the ball while plunging directly into the line a short distance away——————☆ take a diveSlang to lose a prizefight purposely by pretending to get knocked out
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.