dive

Meanings

Verb

• To swim under water.
• To jump into water head-first.
• To jump headfirst toward the ground or into another substance.
• To descend sharply or steeply.
• (especially with in) To undertake with enthusiasm.
• To deliberately fall down after a challenge, imitating being fouled, in the hope of getting one's opponent penalised.
• To cause to descend, dunk; to plunge something into water.
• To explore by diving; to plunge into.
• To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore.

Noun

• A jump or plunge into water.
• A headfirst jump toward the ground or into another substance.
• A downward swooping motion.
• A swim under water.
• A decline.
• A seedy bar, nightclub, etc.
• Aerial descent with the nose pointed down.
• A deliberate fall after a challenge.
• Plural of diva

Origin

• From Middle English diven, duven, from the merger of Old English dȳfan ("to dip, immerse") (from Proto-Germanic *dūbijaną) and dūfan (past participle ġedofen). Cognate with Icelandic dýfa ("to dip, dive"), Low German bedaven ("covered, covered with water"). See also deep, dip.
• From Italian dive; see diva.