/ plʌg; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
1.
a small plastic object with two or three metal pins, that connects a piece of electrical equipment to the main supply of electricity :
a three-pin plug
I'll have to change the plug on my hairdryer.
2.
( informal , especially BrE ) a small opening in a wall, by which you connect a piece of electrical equipment to the main supply of electricity
SYN socket :
Can I use this plug for my iron?
3.
a small object that connects a wire from one piece of electrical equipment to an opening in another :
the plug from the computer to the printer
IN ENGINE
4.
= spark plug
IN BATH / SINK
5.
a thick round piece of plastic or rubber that you put in the hole in a bath/ bathtub or a sink to stop the water flowing out :
She pulled out the plug and let the water drain away.
➡ note at lid
IN HOLE
6.
a round piece of material that fits into a hole and blocks it :
She took the plug of cotton wool from her ear.
—see also earplug
7.
( NAmE ) = stopper ➡ note at lid
FOR SCREW
8.
a small plastic tube that you put into a hole in a wall so that it will hold a screw
FOR BOOK / MOVIE
9.
( informal ) praise or attention that sb gives to a new book, film / movie, etc. in order to encourage people to buy or see it :
He managed to get in a plug for his new book.
•
IDIOMS
see pull verb
■ verb
( -gg- ) [ vn ]
FILL HOLE
1.
plug sth (up) to fill a hole with a substance or piece of material that fits tightly into it :
He plugged the hole in the pipe with an old rag.
PROVIDE STH MISSING
2.
to provide sth that has been missing from a particular situation and is needed in order to improve it :
A cheaper range of products was introduced to plug the gap at the lower end of the market.
BOOK / MOVIE
3.
to give praise or attention to a new book, film / movie, etc. in order to encourage people to buy it or see it
SYN promote :
She came on the show to plug her latest album.
SHOOT
4.
( old-fashioned , NAmE , informal ) to shoot sb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- plug away (at sth)
- plug sth in | plug sth into sth
- plug sth into sth
- plug into sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German plugge , of unknown ultimate origin.