Definition

Noun 1. A pit or reservoir that collects liquid, especially one that receives and holds drainage or waste water. 2. A pit or well in which water collects, such as in a mine or cave. 3. The lowest part of an internal combustion engine, serving as a reservoir for lubricating oil.

Usage and Examples

• As a waste collection pit:
  • The basement sump collects any groundwater that seeps in.
  • Waste from the sink drains into the sump before being pumped away.
• As a water collection point:
  • Miners had to pump water out of the sump at the bottom of the shaft.
  • The cave's sump was filled with clear, cold water.
• As an engine oil reservoir:
  • The mechanic drained the old oil from the sump.
  • A leak in the oil sump can cause serious engine damage.

Advanced Usage

• "Sump pump": A pump used to remove accumulated water from a sump pit, typically in a basement.
  • During the heavy rains, the sump pump ran continuously to keep the cellar dry.

Variants and Related Words

• Sump pit: A hole dug to create a sump.
• Oil sump: Specifically refers to the oil reservoir in an engine (also called an in American English).

Synonyms

• Cistern (for water collection)
• Reservoir
• Pit
• Well
• Oil pan (specifically for engines)

Related Phrases

• To hit the sump: (Informal, automotive) To damage the underside of an engine's oil sump by driving over a high object.
  • Be careful on that rough road, or you might hit the sump.

Noun

1. a covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it
2. a well or other hole in which water has collected
3. an oil reservoir in an internal combustion engine