I. ˈdīv verb
( dived ˈdīvd ; or dove ˈdōv, substand ˈdəv ; or nonstandard div ˈdiv ; dived ; diving ; dives )
Etymology: Middle English diven, duven, from Old English dȳfan (vt) to dip & dūfan (vi) to dive; Old English dȳfan, causative from the root of dūfan; akin to Middle Low German be dūven to be covered, Old Norse dȳfa to dip, Old High German tobal narrow valley, Old Slavic dupina cave, Old English dyppan to dip — more at dip
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to plunge into water headfirst : thrust the body under or deeply into water or other fluid ; specifically : to execute a dive
b. : submerge
the submarine dived
2.
a. : to descend or fall precipitously
the mercury dived to eight below zero
b. : to plunge one's hand into something
dived into her pocketbook
c. of a plane : to descend in a dive — compare glide
3.
a. : to plunge into or explore some matter or subject
dive into the heart of the matter
b. : to throw oneself into some activity : make a vigorous start
dived into his food
dive boldly into a strange new profession
c. : to plunge or dash (as for shelter) into some place or across some space
bystanders dived for cover
: lunge especially with the intent of seizing something
dived for his legs
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to plunge (a person or thing) into water
b. : to thrust (as the hand or anything held) into something
dive his hand into the earth — Mollie Panter-Downes
2. : to cause (as an airplane or submarine) to descend
dived his plane through the sonic barrier
3. archaic : to penetrate or explore by or as if by diving
he dives the hollow, climbs the steeps — R.W.Emerson
Synonyms: see plunge
II. noun
( -s )
1. : the act or an instance of diving: as
a.
(1) : a plunge into water executed in a prescribed manner and consisting of a takeoff (as from a springboard), an evolution in the air, and entry into the water either headfirst (as in a swan dive or jackknife) or feet first (as in a somersault or gainer) — called also fancy dive
(2) : a submerging especially of a submarine
(3) of an airplane : a steep descent with or without power in which the airspeed attained is greater than the maximum speed in horizontal flight
(4) : a headfirst leap in tumbling into the air from the mat or over a piece of apparatus followed immediately by a forward roll
b. : a plunge into or exploration of some matter or subject
undismayed by his first dive into calculus
c. : a plunge or dash (as for shelter) into some place or across some space
made a dive for the ditch
: a lunge especially with the intent of seizing something
made a dive for the gun
d. : a sharp decline (as of stocks or intangible values)
morale took a dive as the news spread
2. : a disreputable resort for drinking or entertainment
this is a respectable roadhouse; this is no dive — Erskine Caldwell
3. slang : a pretended knockout resulting from collusion between two prizefighters
took a dive in the third round
III.
plural of diva