plug
pluhg
Plug (noun) means a device with pins that connects an appliance to an electrical socket. Example: “Please do not touch the plug with wet hands.”
noun
1
A device with pins that connects an appliance to an electrical socket.
"Please do not touch the plug with wet hands."
"I need a new plug because the old one has a cracked casing."
"The plug wouldn't fit the socket, so we used an adapter."
2
An object used to fill or block a hole.
"She pushed a rubber plug into the bottle to keep the juice fresh."
"The dentist put a small plug in the hole in my tooth."
"He pulled the plug and the sink drained."
verb
1
To connect a device to a power source using its plug.
"He plugged the lamp into the wall and the room lit up."
"Don't plug too many gadgets into one extension lead."
"Plug the charger in before you go to bed."
2
To block or seal a hole or gap.
"Dad plugged the gap under the door with a rolled-up towel."
"Engineers worked all night to plug the crack in the dam."
"They plugged the leak with a rag until the plumber arrived."
3
(informal) To promote or mention something favourably, especially one's own work.
"The actor used every interview to plug his latest film."
"Our local baker keeps plugging her new sourdough on social media."
"The host let the author plug her new book."
4
To keep working steadily at something.
"We plugged away at the report until the whole thing was finished."
"If you keep plugging at your French, you will improve."
"He just kept plugging away at his savings goal."
How to use plug
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn object (or the electrical connector) that fills a gap or makes a connection, or the act of blocking a hole, connecting power, or promoting something.
Common pairings
plug in
plug a gap
plug away
plug something on TV
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- plugs
- Past tense
- plugged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please do not touch the _____ with wet hands.
Etymology
Borrowed from Dutch "plug", meaning a peg or stopper.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for plug
See all rhymes for plug →Frequently asked questions
What does “plug” mean?
The word “plug” means a device with pins that connects an appliance to an electrical socket. In plain terms, an object (or the electrical connector) that fills a gap or makes a connection, or the act of blocking a hole, connecting power, or promoting something.
How do you pronounce “plug”?
“Plug” is pronounced pluhg (/plʌɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “plug” in a sentence?
Here is “plug” used in a sentence: “The plug wouldn't fit the socket, so we used an adapter.”
What is another word for “plug”?
Words with a similar meaning to “plug” include soldier on, pound, sleep with and 🔌.
What part of speech is “plug”?
Depending on how it is used, “plug” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “plug” come from?
The word “plug” comes from Dutch. Borrowed from Dutch "plug", meaning a peg or stopper.
Is “plug” a common word?
“Plug” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “plug” have?
“Plug” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device with pins that connects an appliance to an electrical socket.
What is the difference between a plug and a socket?
A plug is the device with pins that connects an appliance to power, while a socket is the fixture on the wall that the plug fits into. In simple terms, the plug is the male part that goes into the female socket.
What is the difference between a plug and an outlet?
A plug is the pinned device attached to an appliance's cord, whereas an outlet is the wall fitting that receives it, the same thing British English calls a socket. The plug is the movable part and the outlet stays fixed in the wall.
Why does plug mean both an electrical device and a stopper?
Plug has two related meanings: a pinned device that connects an appliance to an electrical socket, and an object used to fill or block a hole. Both senses share the idea of fitting one thing snugly into another to make a connection or a seal.
What is the difference between a plug and a cork?
In the sense of an object used to fill or block a hole, a plug can be made of many materials and used in many settings. A cork is a specific kind of plug, usually made from cork bark and used mainly to seal bottles.
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