- 1[transitive, intransitive] to make water, air, gas, etc. flow in a particular direction by using a pump or something that works like a pump pump (something) (+ adv./prep.) The engine is used for pumping water out of the mine. The heart pumps blood around the body. pump something + adj. The lake had been pumped dry.
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- 2[intransitive] + 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[transitive] pump something (+ adv./prep.) to move something quickly up and down or in and out He kept pumping my hand up and down. I pumped the handle like crazy.
- 4[intransitive] to move quickly up and down or in and out She sprinted for the line, legs pumping. My heart was pumping with excitement.
- 5[transitive] pump somebody (for something) (informal) to try to get information from someone by asking them a lot of questions See if you can pump him for more details. Idioms
pump
verbNAmE//pʌmp//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they pump he / she / it pumps
past simple pumped
-ing form pumping
to fire a lot of bullets into someone
to fill someone with something, especially drugs They pumped her full of painkillers.
to do exercises in which you lift heavy weights in order to make your muscles stronger
to remove the contents of someone's stomach using a pump, because they have swallowed something harmful Phrasal Verbspump intopump outpump up
Check pronunciation: pump