- dive
- [[t]da͟ɪv[/t]]
dives, diving, dived(American English sometimes uses the form dove for the past tense.)1) VERB If you dive into some water, you jump in head-first with your arms held straight above your head.
[V into n] He tried to escape by diving into a river...
[V in] She was standing by a pool, about to dive in...
Joanne had just learnt to dive.
N-COUNTDive is also a noun.Pat had earlier made a dive of 80 feet from the Chasm Bridge.
2) VERB If you dive, you go under the surface of the sea or a lake, using special breathing equipment.Bezanik is diving to collect marine organisms.
N-COUNTDive is also a noun.This sighting occurred during my dive to a sunken wreck off Sardinia.
3) VERB When birds and animals dive, they go quickly downwards, head-first, through the air or through water....a pelican which had just dived for a fish...
[V adv/prep] The shark dived down and swam under the boat.
4) VERB If an aeroplane dives, it flies or drops down quickly and suddenly.[V prep/adv] He was killed when his monoplane stalled and dived into the ground. [Also V]
N-COUNTDive is also a noun.Witnesses said the plane failed to pull out of a dive and smashed down in a field.
5) VERB If you dive in a particular direction or into a particular place, you jump or move there quickly.[V prep/adv] They dived into a taxi...
[V prep/adv] The cashier dived for cover when a gunman opened fire...
[V prep/adv] He would dive under one obstacle, round another, and lightly step over a third.
Syn:N-COUNTDive is also a noun.He made a sudden dive for Uncle Jim's legs to try to trip him up.
6) VERB If you dive into a bag or container, you put your hands into it quickly in order to get something out.[V into n] She dived into her bag and brought out a folded piece of paper.
7) VERB If shares, profits, or figures dive, their value falls suddenly and by a large amount. [JOURNALISM]If we cut interest rates, the pound would dive...
[V from/to/by amount] Profits have dived from ₤7.7m to ₤7.1m...
[V amount] The shares dived 22p to 338p.
N-COUNTDive is also a noun.Stock prices took a dive.
8) N-COUNT (disapproval) If you describe a bar or club as a dive, you mean it is dirty and dark, and not very respectable. [INFORMAL]We've played in all the little pubs and dives around Liverpool.
English dictionary. 2008.
