plunge

Plunge is a versatile word in English that can function as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it most often means to dive or throw oneself headlong into something, especially into water, or to move downward suddenly and with force. It can also mean to insert something into another substance with force, as in plunging a knife into a target, or to begin a sudden, extensive movement into a new activity or situation.

As a noun, plunge refers to a sudden dive or fall, such as a person’s plunge into the water or a dramatic drop in value or activity. In finance, a stock market plunge describes a rapid decline in prices; in weather, a plunge in temperatures denotes a sharp drop. A plunge can also describe a physical act, for example, the plunge into a pool or the plunge of a plane into a dive.

Usage notes: the term is general and context-dependent. In everyday language, "plunge" conveys abruptness and force, whether describing motion, price movements, or changes in conditions. In specialized fields, more precise terms (dive, drop, slump, plunge cut) may be used to convey nuance.

Origin: from Old French plonger, meaning to dive or dip, with the noun sense entering English by the 14th century.