verb

dive

dyv

verb

To plunge headfirst into water.

"He dove off the high board without hesitation."

To drop or descend sharply and quickly.

"The hawk dove toward its prey."

"Stock prices dove after the announcement."

noun

A cheap, run-down bar or club.

"They spent the night at a dive near the docks."

How to Use Dive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo plunge into water or drop suddenly — or, as a noun, a scruffy but often charming bar.

Common pairings

dive into the pool take a dive dive bar

Word Forms

dived past tense, dove past tense, doven past tense, diven past tense, dive plural, dived plural, dove plural, dives plural, dives singular, dive singular, dove singular, dived singular, divest singular, divedst singular, diveth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They spent the night at a _____ near the docks.

Etymology

From Old English dȳfan ("to dip") merging with dūfan ("to sink or duck"), both from a Germanic root related to deep and dip.

Rhymes for dive

Ive five give live hive jive vive olive drive alive waive naive

See all rhymes for dive →