Dive

/daɪv/

Meaning & Definition

noun
An act of diving into water.
Her dive from the edge of the platform was graceful.
A steep or sudden descent.
The plane made a sudden dive to avoid the storm.
A low-class bar or club.
We found a cozy little dive to grab some drinks.
verb
To plunge headfirst into water.
He took a deep breath and dove into the pool.
To drop down quickly.
The bird dove towards the ground to catch its prey.
To engage in the sport of scuba diving.
They plan to dive in the coral reef next weekend.

Etymology

Middle English diven, from Old English dyfan; akin to Dutch duiken, to dive.

Common Phrases and Expressions

dive in
To begin to do something enthusiastically and without hesitation.
dive for cover
To quickly seek protection from danger.
take a dive
To pretend to be injured, especially in sports, to deceive others.

Related Words

diver
A person who dives or is skilled in diving.
diving board
A board used for diving into water.
deep dive
An in-depth exploration of a subject.

Slang Meanings

A place, usually a bar, that is run-down or has a questionable reputation.
Let's check out that dive on the corner for a cheap drink.
To lose consciousness or become very poor suddenly.
After the layoff, his finances took a dive.