/ pʌmp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a machine that is used to force liquid, gas or air into or out of sth :
She washed her face at the pump in front of the inn.
( BrE )
a petrol pump
( NAmE )
a gas pump
a foot / hand pump (= that you work by using your foot or hand)
a bicycle pump
—see also stomach pump
2.
( BrE ) = plimsoll
3.
( especially NAmE ) = court shoe
4.
( BrE ) a light soft shoe that you wear for dancing or exercise :
ballet pumps
•
IDIOMS
see hand noun , prime verb
■ verb
1.
to make water, air, gas, etc. flow in a particular direction by using a pump or sth that works like a pump :
[ vn ]
The engine is used for pumping water out of the mine.
The heart pumps blood around the body.
[ vn - adj ]
The lake had been pumped dry.
[also v ]
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] ( of a liquid ) to flow in a particular direction as if it is being forced by a pump :
Blood was pumping out of his wound.
3.
[ vn ] to move sth quickly up and down or in and out :
He kept pumping my hand up and down.
I pumped the handle like crazy.
4.
[ v ] to move quickly up and down or in and out :
She sprinted for the line, legs pumping.
My heart was pumping with excitement.
5.
[ vn ] pump sb (for sth) ( informal ) to try to get information from sb by asking them a lot of questions :
See if you can pump him for more details.
•
IDIOMS
- pump bullets, shots, etc. into sb
- pump sb full of sth
- pump iron
- pump sb's stomach
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- pump sth into sth | pump sth in
- pump sth into sb
- pump sth out
- pump sb up
- pump sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 and verb late Middle English (originally in nautical use): related to Dutch pomp ship's pump (earlier in the sense wooden or metal conduit), probably partly of imitative origin.
noun senses 2 to 4 mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.