I. ˈpəmp noun
Etymology: Middle English pumpe, pompe; akin to Middle Low German pumpe pump, Middle Dutch pompe
Date: 15th century
1. : a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both
2. : heart
3. : an act or the process of pumping
4. : an energy source (as light) for pumping atoms or molecules
5. : a biological mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes — compare sodium pump
II. verb
Date: 1508
intransitive verb
1. : to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump
2. : to exert oneself to pump or as if to pump something
3. : to move in a manner that resembles the action of a pump handle
transitive verb
1.
a. : to raise (as water) with a pump
b. : to draw fluid from with a pump
2. : to pour forth, deliver, or draw with or as if with a pump
pump ed money into the economy
pump new life into the classroom
3.
a. : to question persistently
pump ed him for the information
b. : to elicit by persistent questioning
4.
a. : to operate by manipulating a lever
b. : to manipulate as if operating a pump handle
pump ed my hand warmly
c. : to cause to move with an action resembling that of a pump handle
a runner pump ing her arms
5. : to transport (as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy
6.
a. : to excite (as atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)
b. : to energize (as a laser) by pumping
•
- pump iron
III. noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1555
: a shoe that grips the foot chiefly at the toe and heel ; especially : a close-fitting woman's dress shoe with a moderate to high heel