n.
Pronunciation: ' d ī v
Function: verb
Inflected Form: dived \ ' d ī vd \ or dove \ ' d ō v \ ; dived also dove ; div · ing
Etymology: Middle English diven, duven, from Old English dy ̄ fan to dip & d ū fan to dive; akin to Old English dyppan to dip ― more at DIP
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to plunge into water intentionally and especially headfirst also : to execute a dive b : SUBMERGE <the submarine dived >
2 a : to come or drop down precipitously : PLUNGE <the temperature is diving > b : to plunge one's hand into something c of an airplane : to descend in a dive
3 a : to plunge into some matter or activity <she dove into her studies> b : to plunge or dash for some place < diving for cover> also : to lunge especially in order to seize something < dove for the ball>
transitive verb
1 : to thrust into something
2 : to cause to dive < dive a submarine>
usage Dive, which was orig. a weak verb, developed a past tense dove, prob. by analogy with verbs like drive, drove. Dove exists in some British dialects and has become the standard past tense especially in speech in some parts of Canada. In the U.S. dived and dove are both widespread in speech as past tense and past participle, with dove less common than dived in the south Midland area, and dived less common than dove in the Northern and north Midland areas. In writing, the past tense dived is usual in British English and somewhat more common in American English. Dove seems relatively rare as a past participle in writing.