pump1
/pʌmp
/noun
1A mechanical device using suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gases, or force air into inflatable objects such as tyres: a petrol pump...
- The device is a mechanical pump that can take over the function of either the left or right chamber in the heart.
- One of these devices is the insulin pump, a mechanical device that can be programmed to deliver insulin more like the pancreas does.
- Manufacturers are boosting hydraulic flows by adding pumps and increasing pressures.
1.1 [in singular] An instance of moving something by or as if by a pump: the pump of blood to her heart...
- This may be followed by another set of 10 reps for a final pump of nourishing blood.
- My chest and triceps were toast and the pump of blood into the muscles was immense to say the least.
- His pulse was weak and feverish, more like a shiver than the pump of his life's blood.
2 [with modifier] Physiology An active transport mechanism in living cells by which specific ions are moved through the cell membrane against a concentration gradient: the bacterium’s sodium pump...
- All cells have sodium pumps in their membranes; these consume energy by hydrolysing adenosine triphosphate.
- In certain disease states, the capacity of membrane pumps to maintain normal concentration gradients may be compromised.
- In sufficient quantities, it can cause permanent damage to the cells' noradrenaline reuptake pump.
verb [with object]
1 [with adverbial of direction] Force (liquid, gas, etc.) to move by or as if by means of a pump: the blood is pumped around the body...
- Last month an elderly Mayo couple were left homeless when fire fighters were forced to pump water from a nearby river after their house caught fire in the middle of the night.
- In the end, the fire brigade were forced to pump water from a nearby river.
- If we were to stop pumping greenhouse gases into the air, the earth would not recognize that it is able to dictate policy.
Synonyms
force, drive, push, send, transport, raise, inject;
suck, draw, tap, milk, siphon, withdraw, expel, extract, bleed, drain
1.1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] Move in spurts as though driven by a pump: blood was pumping from a wound in his shoulder...
- There's nothing like 'em for getting the blood pumping and feeling that surge of collective energy.
- The scene is still vivid in my memory - I was mesmerised, I could feel my heart pumping and the adrenalin flow.
- The adrenaline was circulating, surging and pumping in the heat of the moment.
Synonyms
spurt, spout, squirt, jet, surge, spew, gush, stream, flow, flood, pour, spill, rush, well, cascade, run, course, discharge
British informal sloosh
rare disembogue
2Fill (something such as a tyre or balloon) with liquid or gas using a pump: I fetched the bike and pumped up the back tyre my veins had been pumped full of glucose...
- At times, when I was lying on my hospital bed being pumped full of chemotherapy drugs that made me as sick as a dog and caused my hair to fall out, I used to close my eyes and dream I was somewhere else.
- He seemed puffy, like he'd been pumped full of embalming fluid.
- Surely they deserve more than to be pumped full of drugs, just to ensure that our overstretched military forces can continue to support the whims of politicians.
Synonyms
inflate, blow up;
swell, aerate, fill up, enlarge, distend, expand, dilate, bloat, puff up
rare tumefy
2.1 informal Shoot (bullets) into (a target): he pumped two shots into the van’s front tyre...
- Having cornered him and pinned him to the ground they pumped five bullets into his head at close range.
- I watched as Alexandria pumped three bullets into Rafael's chest, and I saw him go down.
- Handguns can pump bullets quickly and accurately, and rifles are likewise lighter, easier to use, and faster to reload.
2.2 (as adjective pumped or pumped up) informal Very enthusiastic or excited: the team came out really pumped up...
- The beginnings of a popular song started and everyone got even more pumped up.
- Pumped with excitement, Fred's hands began to shake.
- On the plane, he told reporters he is pumped, he feels very good.
3Move vigorously up and down: [with object]: we had to pump the handle like mad [no object]: that’s superb running—look at his legs pumping...
- Ju had his left hand on the dome, hair standing on end as Ernie pumped the handle like fury.
- He pumped the handles of slot machines and bet feverishly on the roulette wheel.
- Then they pumped a handle on the press that squeezed the water out of the cylinder and formed tightly-packed disks.
3.1Apply and release (a brake pedal or lever) several times in quick succession, typically to prevent skidding: the school teaches its students to brake by pumping the pedal...
- Only some feral instinct keeps you pumping the brake pedal and steering into the skid, so that you slide instead of spin.
- Details are still emerging, but it looks like he tried to pump his brake pedal, but instead found his accelerator pedal.
- I find that it helps to pump the rear brake lightly and quickly.
4 informal Try to elicit information from (someone) by persistent questioning: she began to pump her friend for details...
- Anyway, our tutor, who believes we are all on the simple side, favours questions with easy and obvious answers and was pumping us for information on Louis XVI.
- The authorities didn't know at this stage of his movements overseas but they were keen to pump him for information on the prayer room, which was now under close surveillance.
- After they had pumped me dry of information, the CIC people let me go.
Synonyms
ask, question (persistently/intensely), quiz, interrogate, probe, put questions to, sound out, cross-examine, catechize
informal grill, put the screws on, give someone the third degree, put someone through the third degree, put someone through the wringer/mangle, worm something out of someone
Phrases
pump someone's hand
pump iron
under the pump
Phrasal verbs
pump something in/into
pump something out
pump something up
Origin
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.
Rhymes
pump2
/pʌmp/noun
1A light shoe, in particular:Then sandals of all sorts; then thongs, clogs, pumps, loafers, oxfords, baby shoes, and desert boots....
- In these classes, you will learn to design and construct shoes such as pumps, sandals, oxfords, and loafers.
- Once you learn with pumps, then work slingbacks in.
1.1chiefly Northern English A sports shoe; a plimsoll.If you buy the kids plimsolls for PE, rather than pumps, you probably live in East Yorkshire - or outside the region....
- Amber ran down a side street, suddenly glad that she had worn tennis shoes instead of pumps.
- She is as guilty as the next girl, admitting to jogging in tennis pumps rather than specialist running shoes.
1.2British A light shoe for dancing.As the troupe marches Fred down the platform, his dancing pumps dissolve into marching boots....
- The shoes where really nice black dancing pumps that made me taller.
- And then of course there's Billy himself, who dances until his pumps start to smoulder in a hugely likeable performance.
1.3North American A court shoe.These beautiful Christian Louboutin Two Tone Court pumps are to simply die for....
- I love those late 70s babes. All glossy red lips, court pumps, kinky smiles and not a hint of plastic surgery.
Origin
Mid 16th century: of unknown origin.