daɪv v. & n. --v. (dived or US dove) 1 intr.
plunge head first into water,
esp. as a
sport. 2 intr. a Aeron. (of an aircraft) plunge steeply downwards at
speed. b Naut. (of a submarine)
submerge. c (of a person) plunge downwards. 3 intr. (foll. by into) colloq. a put one's
hand into (a
pocket,
handbag,
vessel, etc.) quickly
and deeply. b
occupy oneself suddenly and enthusiastically
with (a
subject, meal, etc.). 4 tr. (foll. by into) plunge (a hand etc.) into. --n. 1 an
act of diving; a plunge. 2 a
the submerging of a
submarine. b the steep
descent of an
aircraft. 3 a
sudden darting
movement. 4 colloq. a
disreputable nightclub etc.; a drinking-den (found
themselves in a low dive). 5
Boxing sl. a pretended
knockout (took a dive in the second round). ødive-bomb
bomb (a target)
while diving in an aircraft. dive-bomber an aircraft designed to dive-bomb. dive in colloq.
help oneself (to food). diving-bell an open-bottomed box or bell, supplied with
air, in
which a
person can
descend into
deep water. diving-board an elevated
board used
for diving
from. diving-suit a
watertight suit usu. with a
helmet and an air-supply,
worn for
working under water. [OE dufan (v.intr.) dive,
sink, and dyfan (v.tr.)
immerse, f. Gmc: rel. to DEEP, DIP]
