\Plunge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plunged}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Plunging}.] [OE. ploungen, OF. plongier, F. plonger, fr.
(assumed) LL. plumbicare, fr. L. plumbum lead. See {Plumb}.]
1. To thrust into water, or into any substance that is
   penetrable; to immerse; to cause to penetrate or enter
   quickly and forcibly; to thrust; as, to plunge the body
   into water; to plunge a dagger into the breast. Also used
   figuratively; as, to plunge a nation into war. ``To plunge
   the boy in pleasing sleep.'' --Dryden.
         Bound and plunged him into a cell.    --Tennyson.
         We shall be plunged into perpetual errors. --I.
                                               Watts.
2. To baptize by immersion.
3. To entangle; to embarrass; to overcome. [Obs.]
         Plunged and graveled with three lines of Seneca.
                                               --Sir T.
                                               Browne.

\Plunge\, v. i.
1. To thrust or cast one's self into water or other fluid; to
   submerge one's self; to dive, or to rush in; as, he
   plunged into the river. Also used figuratively; as, to
   plunge into debt.
         Forced to plunge naked in the raging sea. --Dryden.
         To plunge into guilt of a murther.    --Tillotson.
2. To pitch or throw one's self headlong or violently
   forward, as a horse does.
         Some wild colt, which . . . flings and plunges.
                                               --Bp. Hall.
3. To bet heavily and with seeming recklessness on a race, or
   other contest; in an extended sense, to risk large sums in
   hazardous speculations. [Cant]
{Plunging fire} (Gun.), firing directed upon an enemy from an
   elevated position.

\Plunge\, n.
1. The act of thrusting into or submerging; a dive, leap,
   rush, or pitch into, or as into, water; as, to take the
   water with a plunge.
2. Hence, a desperate hazard or act; a state of being
   submerged or overwhelmed with difficulties. [R.]
         She was brought to that plunge, to conceal her
         husband's murder or accuse her son.   --Sir P.
                                               Sidney.
         And with thou not reach out a friendly arm, To raise
         me from amidst this plunge of sorrows? --Addison.
3. The act of pitching or throwing one's self headlong or
   violently forward, like an unruly horse.
4. Heavy and reckless betting in horse racing; hazardous
   speculation. [Cant]
{Plunge bath}, an immersion by plunging; also, a large bath
   in which the bather can wholly immerse himself.
{Plunge}, or {plunging}, {battery} (Elec.), a voltaic battery
   so arranged that the plates can be plunged into, or
   withdrawn from, the exciting liquid at pleasure.