Definition

1. Noun:

   • A steep nose-down descent by an aircraft: A rapid, uncontrolled downward plunge of an airplane with its front end pointing toward the ground.
   • A sudden sharp drop or rapid decline: A metaphor for any abrupt and severe decrease or deterioration in value, quality, or condition.

2. Verb:

   • To plunge nose first; to drop with the nose or front first: Used primarily to describe the action of an aircraft diving steeply downward. It can also be used metaphorically for anything declining very rapidly.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The pilot managed to pull the plane out of a terrifying nosedive.
  • After the scandal, the company's reputation took a nosedive.
  • We saw a sudden nosedive in sales last quarter.

• Verb:

  • The malfunctioning aircraft began to nosedive toward the ocean.
  • Stock prices nosedived following the unexpected economic report.

Advanced Usage

• "To go into a nosedive": To begin a sudden, steep decline.
  • The project went into a nosedive after the lead developer quit.
• "To be in a nosedive": To be in a state of rapid and uncontrolled decline.
  • Morale in the office is in a nosedive.

Variants and Related Words

• Dive (noun/verb): A more general term for a steep descent or plunge, not necessarily nose-first.
  • The hawk went into a dive to catch its prey.
• Plummet (verb): To fall or drop straight down at high speed.
  • Temperatures are expected to plummet tonight.

Synonyms

• Noun: plunge, drop, fall, crash, downturn, collapse.
• Verb: plunge, plummet, dive, crash, tumble.

Related Phrases

• Take a nosedive: (Phrasal verb) To suddenly and sharply decrease or fall.
  • His confidence took a nosedive after he failed the exam.

Noun

1. a steep nose-down descent by an aircraft
2. a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline
   • the stock took a nosedive

Verb

1. plunge nose first; drop with the nose or front first, of aircraft