plunge

verb

1. (transitive)To thrust into liquid, or into any penetrable substance; to immerse.

   “to plunge the body into water”

   “"Most of them don't wash. Those who do usually plunge their head into some brook or rill, if there happens to be one about."”

2. (figuratively, transitive)To cast, stab or throw deep and fast into some thing, state, condition or action.

   “to plunge a dagger into the breast”

   “to plunge a nation into war”

   “the city was plunged into darkness”

   “Jon isn’t lying when he tells her she will always be his queen, right before plunging a knife into her. He genuinely swore obedience, and sees himself as a traitor when he commits the deeds.”

3. (obsolete, transitive)To baptize by immersion.
4. (intransitive)To dive, leap or rush (into water or some liquid); to submerge oneself.

   “he plunged into the river”

5. (figuratively, intransitive)To fall or rush headlong into some thing, action, state or condition.

   “to plunge into debt”

   “to plunge into controversy”

   “profits plunge 90%”

   “The day was cool and snappy for August, and the Rise all green with a lavish nature. Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet:[…].”

   “Do we know how kinky practices began? Do we know who the first kinky people were? Well, no. […] Nevertheless, we shall plunge ahead into the past, using what facts we have to make informed assumptions on how we traveled the slippery slope from there to here.”

6. (intransitive)To pitch or throw oneself headlong or violently forward, as a horse does.

   “[N]ature affects a looſe kinde of liberty, vvhich it cannot indure to have reſtrained: neither fares it othervviſe vvith it, then vvith ſome vvilde colt; which at the firſt taking up, flings and plunges, and vvill ſtand on no ground; but after it hath been ſomvvhile diſciplin'd at the Poſt, is grovvn tractable, and quietly ſubmits either to the ſaddle, or the collar: […]”

7. (intransitive, slang)To bet heavily and recklessly; to risk large sums in gambling.
8. (intransitive, obsolete)To entangle or embarrass (mostly used in past participle).

   “Plunged and gravelled with three lines of Seneca.”

9. (intransitive, obsolete)To overwhelm, overpower.
10. (transitive)To remove a blockage by suction.

    “to plunge a toilet”

noun

1. The act of plunging or submerging.
2. A dive, leap, rush, or pitch into (into water).

   “to take the water with a plunge”

   “A plunge into the sea”

3. (dated)A swimming pool.
4. (figuratively)The act of pitching or throwing oneself headlong or violently forward, like an unruly horse.
5. (slang)Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous speculation.
6. (obsolete)An immersion in difficulty, embarrassment, or distress; the condition of being surrounded or overwhelmed; a strait; difficulty.