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noun B1 Intermediate Common

pump

puhmp

Pump (noun) means a device that moves or pushes liquid or gas from one place to another. Example: “The well uses an electric pump to bring up water.”

noun
1
A device that moves or pushes liquid or gas from one place to another.
"The well uses an electric pump to bring up water."
2
A woman's low-cut shoe with a fairly high heel and no fastening.
"She wore black pumps with her dress."
verb
1
To move liquid or gas using a pump, or to move something rhythmically like a pump.
"Firefighters pumped water onto the flames."
"His heart pumped hard after the sprint."

How to use pump

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA device for moving liquid/gas, the act of moving something that way, or a style of heeled shoe.

Common pairings
petrol pump pump water pair of pumps

Word forms

pumped past tense, pumps plural, pumps plural, pumps singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The well uses an electric _____ to bring up water.

Etymology

From Middle English pumpe, likely from a Dutch or Low German word for a pipe or water conduit.

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Rhymes for pump

See all rhymes for pump →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pump” mean?

The word “pump” means a device that moves or pushes liquid or gas from one place to another. In plain terms, a device for moving liquid/gas, the act of moving something that way, or a style of heeled shoe.

How do you pronounce “pump”?

“Pump” is pronounced puhmp (/pʌmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “pump” in a sentence?

Here is “pump” used in a sentence: “The well uses an electric pump to bring up water.”

What part of speech is “pump”?

Depending on how it is used, “pump” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “pump” come from?

The word “pump” comes from Middle English. From Middle English pumpe, likely from a Dutch or Low German word for a pipe or water conduit.

Is “pump” a common word?

“Pump” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “pump” have?

“Pump” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device that moves or pushes liquid or gas from one place to another.

What is the difference between a pump and a compressor?

A pump is a device that moves liquid or gas from one place to another. A compressor is a machine that specifically squeezes gas into a smaller volume to raise its pressure, so all compressors move gas but not all pumps compress it.

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