(~s)
1.
A ~ is a large pipe which is used for carrying oil or gas over a long distance, often underground.
A consortium plans to build a natural-gas ~ from Russia to supply eastern Germany.
N-COUNT
2.
If something is in the ~, it has already been planned or begun.
Already in the ~ is a 2.9 per cent pay increase for teachers.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v