fire-plug
Definition
- Noun:
- A device for accessing water from a water main for firefighting: "fire-plug" refers to a connection point on a public water supply system, typically located on a street, that allows firefighters to attach hoses to obtain water for extinguishing fires. It is also commonly known as a "fire hydrant."
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The fire department connected their hose to the fire-plug on the corner. (They attached their hose to the street-level water access point.)
- During the drill, the team located the nearest fire-plug within seconds. (They found the fire hydrant quickly.)
Advanced Usage
"to open a fire-plug": to activate the valve on a fire-plug to release water.
- The firefighter used a special wrench to open the fire-plug. (He turned the valve to allow water flow.)
"fire-plug location": the designated spot where a fire-plug is installed, often marked by a sign or colour.
- The city maps indicate every fire-plug location for emergency planning. (The maps show where each hydrant is situated.)
Variants and Related Words
Fire hydrant (n): a synonymous term, more commonly used in modern English, referring to the same device.
- The car was parked too close to the fire hydrant. (The vehicle was illegally near the water access point.)
Hydrant (n): a shortened form of "fire hydrant," often used informally.
- The dog lifted its leg on the hydrant. (The animal urinated on the fire-fighting device.)
Synonyms
- Fire hydrant: the standard term for a water supply point for firefighting.
- Standpipe: a vertical pipe or connection for water supply, sometimes used in buildings for fire hoses.
Phrasal Verbs
- Plug into: (in a general sense) to connect to a supply; not specific to fire-plugs.
- They plugged into the water main through the fire-plug. (They connected to the main water supply via the hydrant.)
Related Idioms
- As dry as a fire-plug: (rare, regional) meaning extremely dry or thirsty, though not a common idiom.
- After the hike, my throat was as dry as a fire-plug. (I was very thirsty.)