ENGLISH
REFERENCE

diving

n. · adj.
US //ˈdaɪvɪŋ// UK //dˈaɪvɪŋ// div·ing
  1. 1 jumping into water (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    the sport of jumping into water with your head first, often doing flips or twists.

    the sport or activity of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, usually while performing acrobatic manoeuvres.

    Example

    She won a gold medal in high-board diving at the summer games.

    Example

    The judges awarded high scores for the complexity of the dive and the minimal splash created upon entry into the pool.

  2. 2 swimming underwater (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    swimming deep under the surface of the water, often using special breathing equipment.

    the activity of swimming underwater, typically using scuba gear or holding one's breath to explore marine environments.

    Example

    We went diving in the Red Sea to look at the colourful coral reefs.

    Example

    Technical diving requires extensive training and specialized equipment to manage the physiological risks of deep-sea exploration.

    • scuba diving
    • snorkelling
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  1. 3 faking a fall (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Sport

    in sports like football, pretending to fall down to trick the referee into giving a penalty.

    the act of deliberately falling to the ground to deceive an official into awarding a foul or penalty.

    Example

    The striker was criticized for diving in the penalty area during the final minutes.

    Example

    The referee issued a yellow card for diving, as the slow-motion replay clearly showed there was no physical contact between the players.

  2. 4 moving downwards (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing something that is moving or falling quickly downwards.

    characterised by a sudden or steep descent; often used to describe physical movement or birds of prey.

    Example

    The diving bird caught a fish just before it hit the water.

    Example

    The pilot managed to pull the aircraft out of a diving spiral just seconds before impact.

Origin

By surface analysis, dive + -ing.

Word family

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