pump

[[t]pʌ̱mp[/t]]

♦♦♦

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...

There was no water in the building, just a pump in the courtyard...

You'll need a bicycle pump to keep the tyres topped up with air.

2) VERB To pump a liquid or gas in a particular direction means to force it to flow in that direction using a pump.

[V n with adv] It's not enough to get rid of raw sewage by pumping it out to sea...

[V n prep] The money raised will be used to dig bore holes to pump water into the dried-up lake.

[V n] ...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.

...gas pumps.

4) VERB: usu passive If someone has their stomach pumped, doctors remove the contents of their stomach, for example because they have swallowed poison or drugs.

[have n V-ed] She was released from hospital yesterday after having her stomach pumped. [Also be V-ed]

5) VERB 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]

[V n into n] Services for the elderly and disabled will necessarily be cut unless the Government pumps more money into community care.

Syn:

pour

6) VERB If you pump someone about something, you keep asking them questions in order to get information. [INFORMAL]

[V n about/for n] He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case...

[V n about/for n] He must have pumped Janey for details...

[V n out of/from n] Stop trying to pump information out of me.

Syn:

grill

7) VERB To pump bullets into someone means to fire a lot of bullets into them very quickly. [WRITTEN]

[V n into n] A gunman burst in and pumped five bullets into her head.

8) N-COUNT Pumps are canvas shoes with flat rubber soles which people wear for sports and leisure. [mainly BRIT]

Syn:

plimsoll

(in AM, use trainers)

9) 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)

10) 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.

11) to pump iron → see iron

Phrasal Verbs:

- pump out

- pump up