pump
♦ pump /p'ʌmp/ (pumps pumping pumped)
1 [N-COUNT]
A pump is a machine or device that is used to force a liquid or gas to flow in a particular direction.
...pumps that circulate the fuel around in the engine...
You'll need a bicycle pump to keep the tyres topped up with air.
2 [VERB] V n with adv, V n prep, V n, V
To pump a liquid or gas in a particular direction means to force it to flow in that direction using a pump.
It's not enough to get rid of raw sewage by pumping it out to sea...
The money raised will be used to dig bore holes to pump water into the dried-up lake.
...drill rigs that are busy pumping natural gas...
Age diminishes the heart's ability to pump harder and faster under exertion.
3 [N-COUNT] oft n N
A petrol or gas pump is a machine with a tube attached to it that you use to fill a car with petrol.
There are already long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps.
4 [VERB] usu passive, have n V-ed
If someone has their stomach pumped, doctors remove the contents of their stomach, for example because they have swallowed poison or drugs.
She was released from hospital yesterday after having her stomach pumped.
5 [VERB] V n into n
If you pump money or other resources into something such as a project or an industry, you invest a lot of money or resources in it. (INFORMAL)
The Government needs to pump more money into community care.
6 [VERB] V n about/for n, V n out of/from n
If you pump someone about something, you keep asking them questions in order to get information. (INFORMAL)
He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case...
Stop trying to pump information out of me.
= grill
7 [N-COUNT]
Pumps are canvas shoes with flat rubber soles which people wear for sports and leisure. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use trainers)
8 [N-COUNT]
Pumps are women's shoes that do not cover the top part of the foot and are usually made of plain leather. (AM; in BRIT, use court shoes)
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
To prime the pump means to do something to encourage the success or growth of something, especially the economy. (mainly AM)
...the use of tax money to prime the pump of the state's economy.pump out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To pump out something means to produce or supply it continually and in large amounts.
Japanese companies have been pumping out plenty of innovative products...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If pop music pumps out, it plays very loudly.
Teenage disco music pumped out at every station.pump up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you pump up something such as a tyre, you fill it with air using a pump.
I tried to pump up my back tyre.
1 [N-COUNT]
A pump is a machine or device that is used to force a liquid or gas to flow in a particular direction.
...pumps that circulate the fuel around in the engine...
You'll need a bicycle pump to keep the tyres topped up with air.
2 [VERB] V n with adv, V n prep, V n, V
To pump a liquid or gas in a particular direction means to force it to flow in that direction using a pump.
It's not enough to get rid of raw sewage by pumping it out to sea...
The money raised will be used to dig bore holes to pump water into the dried-up lake.
...drill rigs that are busy pumping natural gas...
Age diminishes the heart's ability to pump harder and faster under exertion.
3 [N-COUNT] oft n N
A petrol or gas pump is a machine with a tube attached to it that you use to fill a car with petrol.
There are already long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps.
4 [VERB] usu passive, have n V-ed
If someone has their stomach pumped, doctors remove the contents of their stomach, for example because they have swallowed poison or drugs.
She was released from hospital yesterday after having her stomach pumped.
5 [VERB] V n into n
If you pump money or other resources into something such as a project or an industry, you invest a lot of money or resources in it. (INFORMAL)
The Government needs to pump more money into community care.
6 [VERB] V n about/for n, V n out of/from n
If you pump someone about something, you keep asking them questions in order to get information. (INFORMAL)
He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case...
Stop trying to pump information out of me.
= grill
7 [N-COUNT]
Pumps are canvas shoes with flat rubber soles which people wear for sports and leisure. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use trainers)
8 [N-COUNT]
Pumps are women's shoes that do not cover the top part of the foot and are usually made of plain leather. (AM; in BRIT, use court shoes)
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
To prime the pump means to do something to encourage the success or growth of something, especially the economy. (mainly AM)
...the use of tax money to prime the pump of the state's economy.pump out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To pump out something means to produce or supply it continually and in large amounts.
Japanese companies have been pumping out plenty of innovative products...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If pop music pumps out, it plays very loudly.
Teenage disco music pumped out at every station.pump up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you pump up something such as a tyre, you fill it with air using a pump.
I tried to pump up my back tyre.