2 N‑UNCOUNT Plunder is property that is stolen. [LITERARY ] □ The thieves are often armed and in some cases have killed for their plunder.
plunge ◆◇◇ /plʌ ndʒ/ (plunges , plunging , plunged )
1 VERB If something or someone plunges in a particular direction, especially into water, they fall, rush, or throw themselves in that direction. □ [V prep/adv] At least 50 people died when a bus plunged into a river. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Plunge is also a noun. □ …a plunge into cold water.
2 VERB If you plunge an object into something, you push it quickly or violently into it. □ [V n into n] A soldier plunged a bayonet into his body. □ [V n with in ] I plunged in my knife and fork.
3 VERB If a person or thing is plunged into a particular state or situation, or if they plunge into it, they are suddenly in that state or situation. □ [V n + into ] The government's political and economic reforms threaten to plunge the country into chaos. □ [V -ed] Eddy finds himself plunged into a world of brutal violence. □ [V + into ] The economy is plunging into recession. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Plunge is also a noun. □ [+ into ] That peace often looked like a brief truce before the next plunge into war.
4 VERB If you plunge into an activity or are plunged into it, you suddenly get very involved in it. □ [V + into ] The two men plunged into discussion. □ [be V -ed + into ] The prince should be plunged into work. □ [V pron-refl + into ] Take the opportunity to plunge yourself into your career. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Plunge is also a noun. □ [+ into ] His sudden plunge into the field of international diplomacy is a major surprise.
5 VERB If an amount or rate plunges , it decreases quickly and suddenly. □ [V ] His weight began to plunge. □ [V + to ] The Pound plunged to a new low on the foreign exchange markets yesterday. □ [V + from/to ] Shares have plunged from £17 to £7.55. □ [V + by ] The bank's profits plunged by 87 per cent. □ [V amount] Its net profits plunged 73% last year. ● N‑COUNT Plunge is also a noun. □ Japan's banks are in trouble because of bad loans and the stock market plunge.
6 → see also plunging
7 PHRASE If you take the plunge , you decide to do something that you consider difficult or risky. □ If you have been thinking about buying shares, now could be the time to take the plunge.
plung|er /plʌ ndʒə r / (plungers ) N‑COUNT A plunger is a device for clearing waste pipes. It consists of a rubber cup on the end of a stick which you press down several times over the end of the pipe.
plung|ing /plʌ ndʒ I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] A dress or blouse with a plunging neckline is cut in a very low V-shape at the front.
plunk /plʌ ŋk/ (plunks , plunking , plunked )
1 VERB If you plunk something somewhere, you put it there without great care. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ [V n with down ] Melanie plunked her cosmetic case down on a chair. □ [V n + on ] She swept up a hat from where it had fallen on the ground, and plunked it on her hair. in BRIT, use plonk 2 VERB If you plunk yourself somewhere, or plunk down , you sit down heavily and clumsily. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ [V down ] I watched them go and plunked down on one of the small metal chairs. in BRIT, use plonk
plu|per|fect /pluː pɜː r f I kt/ N‑SING The pluperfect is the same as the past perfect .
plu|ral /plʊə rəl/ (plurals )
1 ADJ The plural form of a word is the form that is used when referring to more than one person or thing. □ 'Data' is the Latin plural form of 'datum'. □ …his use of the plural pronoun 'we'.
2 N‑COUNT The plural of a noun is the form of it that is used to refer to more than one person or thing. □ [+ of ] What is the plural of 'person'?
plu|ral|ism /plʊə rəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT If there is pluralism within a society, it has many different groups and political parties. [FORMAL ] □ …as the country shifts towards political pluralism.
plu|ral|ist /plʊə rəl I st/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pluralist society is one in which many different groups and political parties are allowed to exist. [FORMAL ] □ …an attempt to create a pluralist democracy.
plu|ral|ist|ic /plʊə rəl I st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Pluralistic means the same as pluralist . [FORMAL ] □ Our objective is a free, open and pluralistic society.
plu|ral|ity /plʊəræ l I ti/ (pluralities )
1 QUANT If there is a plurality of things, a number of them exist. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Federalism implies a plurality of political authorities, each with its own powers.
2 QUANT If a candidate, political party, or idea has the support of a plurality of people, they have more support than any other candidate, party, or idea. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The Conservative party retained a plurality of the votes.
3 N‑COUNT A plurality in an election is the number of votes that the winner gets, when this is less than the total number of votes for all the other candidates. [AM ] □ He only got a plurality on November 3rd, just 49 percent.
4 N‑COUNT A plurality in an election is the difference in the number of votes between the candidate who gets the most votes and the candidate who comes second. [AM ] □ Franklin had won with a plurality in electoral votes of 449 to 82.