- a machine that is used to force liquid, gas or air into or out of something
- (British English) a petrol pump
- (North American English) a gas pump
- a foot/hand pump (= that you work by using your foot or hand)
- a bicycle pump
- She washed her face at the pump in front of the inn.
- (also plimsoll, old-fashioned gym shoe)(British English) a light simple sports shoe made of canvas (= strong cotton cloth) with a rubber sole
- (especially North American English) (British English court shoe)a woman’s formal shoe that is plain and does not cover the top part of the footTopics Clothes and Fashionc2
- (British English) a woman’s light, soft flat shoe worn for dancing or exercise; a similar style of shoe worn as a fashion item
- ballet pumps
see also fist pump, parish-pump
Word Originnoun sense 1 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.
Idioms
See pump in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee pump in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishall hands on deck
(also all hands to the pump)
- (saying, humorous) everyone helps or must help, especially in a difficult situation
- There are 30 people coming to dinner tonight, so it's all hands on deck.
prime the pump
- to encourage the growth of a new or weak business or industry by putting money into it
Check pronunciation:
pump