Definition

1. Noun:

   • A mechanical device for moving fluids or gases: A machine that uses pressure or suction to force a liquid or gas to flow in a specific direction.
   • A low-heeled shoe: A woman's shoe with a low heel and no fastenings, often used for dancing.
   • The heart (informal): Used informally to refer to the heart, the muscular organ that pumps blood.

2. Verb:

   • To move a fluid or gas with a pump: To force a liquid or gas to move by using a pump.
   • To move vigorously up and down: To move something, or part of the body, in a forceful, rhythmic, up-and-down motion.
   • To question persistently: To try to obtain information from someone by asking many questions.
   • To supply in large quantities: To invest or put a lot of something, especially money or resources, into something continuously.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The water pump broke, so we had no running water. (The mechanical device for moving water stopped working.)
  • She wore elegant black pumps to the party. (She wore formal low-heeled shoes.)
  • My pump was racing after the sprint. (My heart was beating very fast.)

• Verb:

  • We need to pump air into the bicycle tires. (We need to use a pump to put air into the tires.)
  • The crowd pumped their fists in the air. (The crowd moved their fists up and down energetically.)
  • The reporter pumped the official for details about the meeting. (The reporter asked the official many questions to get details.)
  • The government decided to pump funds into the new infrastructure project. (The government decided to invest a large amount of money.)

Advanced Usage

• "to pump iron": To lift weights for exercise.

  • He pumps iron at the gym five days a week. (He lifts weights regularly for fitness.)

• "to pump the brakes": To press and release the brake pedal of a vehicle repeatedly and quickly to avoid locking the wheels, especially on slippery surfaces.

  • Pump the brakes gently on ice to maintain control. (Apply the brakes in short bursts to prevent skidding.)

• "to pump out": To produce something in large quantities or continuously.

  • The factory pumps out thousands of units every day. (The factory produces a large number continuously.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pumper (n): A person who operates a pump; a fire engine equipped with a pump.
• Pumpable (adj): Capable of being pumped.
• Pumping (n/adj): The action of operating a pump; (as an adjective) relating to or involving a pumping action.

Synonyms

• Noun (device): Compressor, siphon.
• Verb (move fluid): Force, drive.
• Verb (question): Grill, interrogate, probe.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pump up: To inflate with air; to excite or energize someone.

  • Pump up the ball before the game. (Inflate the ball with air.)
  • The coach gave a speech to pump up the team. (The coach tried to make the team feel excited and energetic.)

• Pump into: To invest or channel large amounts of something (e.g., money, effort) into something.

  • They pumped millions into researching the new drug. (They invested a lot of money in the research.)

Related Idioms

• "Prime the pump": To stimulate growth or activity by investing money or resources.

  • The tax cuts are intended to prime the pump of the economy. (The tax cuts are meant to stimulate economic activity.)

• "All hands to the pumps": A call for everyone to help in an emergency or urgent situation.

  • With the deadline approaching, it was all hands to the pumps. (Everyone needed to help because the situation was urgent.)

Noun

1. a low-cut shoe without fastenings
2. the hollow muscular organ located behind the sternum and between the lungs; its rhythmic contractions move the blood through the body
   • he stood still, his heart thumping wildly
3. a mechanical device that moves fluid or gas by pressure or suction

Verb

1. question persistently
   • She pumped the witnesses for information
2. raise (gases or fluids) with a pump
3. move up and down
   • The athlete pumps weights in the gym
4. flow intermittently
5. supply in great quantities
   • Pump money into a project
6. draw or pour with a pump
7. deliver forth
   • pump bullets into the dummy
8. operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
   • pump the gas pedal