[dive] vb dived or dove ; dived also dove ; div.ing [ME diven, duven, fr. OE dyfan to dip & dufan to dive; akin to OE dyppan to dip--more at dip] vi (bef. 12c) 1 a: to plunge into water intentionally and esp. headfirst; also: to execute a dive b: submerge
2. a: to come or drop down precipitously: plunge 3 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 b: to plunge or dash for some place "diving for cover"; also: to lunge esp. in order to seize something "dove for the ball" ~ vt 1: to thrust into something
2: to cause to dive 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 esp. 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.
[2]dive n (1700) 1: the act or an instance of diving: as a (1): a plunge into water executed in a prescribed manner (2): a submerging of a submarine (3): a steep descent of an airplane at greater than the maximum horizontal speed b: a sharp decline
2: a disreputable entertainment establishment
3: a faked knockout--usu. used in the phrase take a dive
4: an offensive play in football in which the ballcarrier plunges into the line for short yardage