plug in

or plug into

1) PHRASAL VERB If you plug a piece of electrical equipment into an electricity supply or if you plug it in, you push its plug into an electric socket so that it can work.

[V P n (not pron)] They plugged in their tape-recorders...

[V n P] I filled the kettle while she was talking and plugged it in...

[V n P n] He took the machine from its bag and plugged it into the wall socket...

[V n P n] Some barbecues can be plugged into a household electricity supply.

2) PHRASAL VERB If you plug one piece of electrical equipment into another or if you plug it in, you make it work by connecting the two.

[V n P n] They plugged their guitars into amplifiers...

[V P n (not pron)] He plugged in his guitar.

3) PHRASAL VERB If one piece of electrical equipment plugs in or plugs into another piece of electrical equipment, it works by being connected by an electrical cord or lead to an electricity supply or to the other piece of equipment.

[V P n] A CD-I deck looks like a video recorder and plugs into the home television and stereo system...

[V P n] They plug into the mains...

[V P] They've found out where the other speaker plugs in.

4) PHRASAL VERB If you plug something into a hole, you push it into the hole.

[V n P n] Her instructor plugged live bullets into the gun's chamber.