Dive (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dived (?), colloq. Dove (), a relic of the AS. strong forms de�xa0;f, dofen; p. pr. & vb. n. Diving.] [OE. diven, duven, AS. dfan to sink, v. t., fr. dfan, v. i.; akin to Icel. dfa, G. taufen, E. dip, deep, and perh. to dove, n. Cf. Dip.]
1.
To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body under, or deeply into, water or other fluid.
It is not that pearls fetch a high price because men have dived for them.
Whately.
⇒ The colloquial form dove is common in the United States as an imperfect tense form.
All [the walruses] dove down with a tremendous splash.
Dr. Hayes.
When closely pressed it [the loon] dove . . . and left the young bird sitting in the water.
J. Burroughs.
2.
Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore.
South.
© Webster 1913.
Dive (?), v. t.
1.
To plunge (a person or thing) into water; to dip; to duck.
[Obs.]
Hooker.
2.
To explore by diving; to plunge into.
[R.]
The Curtii bravely dived the gulf of fame.
Denham.
He dives the hollow, climbs the steeps.
Emerson.
© Webster 1913.
Dive, n.
1.
A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives, literally or figuratively.
2.
A place of low resort.
[Slang]
The music halls and dives in the lower part of the city.
J. Hawthorne.
© Webster 1913.