pump
pump1 /pʌmp/ 
noun
Language: Middle Low German
Origin: pumpe or Middle Dutch pompe, probably from Spanish bomba
Origin: Origin unknown1. [countable] a machine for forcing liquid or gas into or out of something
water/air/beer etc pump (=for moving water, air etc)
hand/foot pump (=operated by your hand or foot)
petrol pump/gas pump (=for putting petrol into cars)
stomach pump (=for removing the contents of someone’s stomach)
2. [countable usually plural]
a. British English a flat light shoe for dancing, exercise, sport etc
b. American English a woman’s plain shoe with no laces, buckles etc:
a pair of leather pumps
3. [countable] an act of pumping
⇨ heat pump, ⇨ all hands to the pumps at hand1(38), ⇨ prime the pump at prime3(4), ⇨ parish pump
pump2 verb
1. MOVE IN A DIRECTION [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make liquid or gas move in a particular direction, using a pump
pump something into/out of/through something
The fire department is still pumping floodwater out of the cellars.
2. MOVE FROM UNDER GROUND [transitive] to bring a supply of water, oil etc to the surface from under the ground:
We were able to pump clean water from several of the wells.
pump gas American English (=put gasoline into a car)
He got a job pumping gas for the hotel guests.
3. MOVE IN AND OUT [intransitive] (also pump away) to move very quickly in and out or up and down:
My heart was pumping fast.
4. USE A PUMP [intransitive] (also pump away) to operate a pump
pump at
The furnace man’s job was to pump away furiously at the bellows.
5. COME OUT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a liquid pumps from somewhere, it comes out suddenly in small amounts
pump from/out of
Blood pumped from the wound.
6. ASK QUESTIONS [transitive] informal to ask someone a lot of questions in order to get information from them
pump somebody for something
I tried to pump him for information about their other contacts.
7. DRUGS pump somebody full of something informal to put a lot of drugs into someone’s body:
athletes pumped full of steroids
8. EXERCISE pump iron informal to do exercises by lifting heavy weights
9. MEDICAL TREATMENT have your stomach pumped to have a medical treatment to remove things you have swallowed, using a pump
pump something into somebody/something phrasal verb
1. pump bullets into somebody/something informal to shoot someone several times
2. pump money into something to put a lot of money into a project, investment etc
pump out phrasal verb
1. if something such as music, information, or a supply of products pumps out, or if someone pumps it out, a lot of it is produced:
Music pumped out from the loudspeakers.
pump something ↔ out
propaganda pumped out by the food industry
2. pump something ↔ out to remove liquid from something, using a pump:
You’ll have to pump the boat out.
pump something/somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
1. to fill a tyre, airbed etc with air until it is full
SYN inflate
2. informal to increase the value, amount, or level of something:
The US was able to pump up exports.
Come on, pump up the volume (=play music louder)!
3. to increase someone’s excitement, interest etc
| I |
noun Sense 1, 3
Date: 1400-1500Language: Middle Low German
Origin: pumpe or Middle Dutch pompe, probably from Spanish bomba
Sense 2
Date: 1500-1600Origin: Origin unknown
water/air/beer etc pump (=for moving water, air etc)
hand/foot pump (=operated by your hand or foot)
petrol pump/gas pump (=for putting petrol into cars)
stomach pump (=for removing the contents of someone’s stomach)
2. [countable usually plural]
a. British English a flat light shoe for dancing, exercise, sport etc
b. American English a woman’s plain shoe with no laces, buckles etc:
3. [countable] an act of pumping
⇨ heat pump, ⇨ all hands to the pumps at hand1(38), ⇨ prime the pump at prime3(4), ⇨ parish pump
| II |
verb1. MOVE IN A DIRECTION [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make liquid or gas move in a particular direction, using a pump
pump something into/out of/through something
2. MOVE FROM UNDER GROUND [transitive] to bring a supply of water, oil etc to the surface from under the ground:
pump gas American English (=put gasoline into a car)
3. MOVE IN AND OUT [intransitive] (also pump away) to move very quickly in and out or up and down:
4. USE A PUMP [intransitive] (also pump away) to operate a pump
pump at
5. COME OUT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a liquid pumps from somewhere, it comes out suddenly in small amounts
pump from/out of
6. ASK QUESTIONS [transitive] informal to ask someone a lot of questions in order to get information from them
pump somebody for something
7. DRUGS pump somebody full of something informal to put a lot of drugs into someone’s body:
8. EXERCISE pump iron informal to do exercises by lifting heavy weights
9. MEDICAL TREATMENT have your stomach pumped to have a medical treatment to remove things you have swallowed, using a pump
pump something into somebody/something phrasal verb
1. pump bullets into somebody/something informal to shoot someone several times
2. pump money into something to put a lot of money into a project, investment etc
pump out phrasal verb
1. if something such as music, information, or a supply of products pumps out, or if someone pumps it out, a lot of it is produced:
pump something ↔ out
2. pump something ↔ out to remove liquid from something, using a pump:
pump something/somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
1. to fill a tyre, airbed etc with air until it is full
SYN inflate
2. informal to increase the value, amount, or level of something:
3. to increase someone’s excitement, interest etc