plug

plug¹ S3 [plʌg] n

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1¦(electricity)¦

2¦(bath)¦

3¦(advertisement)¦

4¦(in an engine)¦

5 pull the plug (on something)

6¦(to fill a hole)¦

7¦(for holding screws)¦

8¦(a piece of something)¦

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[Date: 1600-1700; : Dutch; Origin: Middle Dutch plugge]

1.) ¦(ELECTRICITY)¦

a) a small object at the end of a wire that is used for connecting a piece of electrical equipment to the main supply of electricity

▪ The plug on my iron needs changing.

▪ an electric plug

b) informal especially BrE a place on a wall where electrical equipment can be connected to the main electricity supply

= ↑socket

American Equivalent: outlet

2.) ¦(BATH)¦

a round flat piece of rubber used for stopping the water flowing out of a bath or ↑sink

▪ the bath plug

3.) ¦(ADVERTISEMENT)¦ informal

a way of advertising a book, film etc by mentioning it publicly, especially on television or radio

put/get in a plug (for sth)

▪ During the show she managed to put in a plug for her new book.

4.) ¦(IN AN ENGINE)¦ informal

the part of a petrol engine that makes a ↑spark, which makes the petrol start burning

= ↑spark plug

▪ Change the plugs every 10,000 miles.

5.) pull the plug (on sth) informal to prevent a plan, business etc from being able to continue, especially by deciding not to give it any more money

▪ The Swiss entrepreneur has pulled the plug on any further investment in the firm.

6.) ¦(TO FILL A HOLE)¦

an object or substance that is used to fill or block a hole, tube etc

plug of

▪ You can fill any holes with plugs of matching wood.

→↑earplug

7.) ¦(FOR HOLDING SCREWS)¦

BrE a small plastic tube put in a hole to hold a screw tightly

8.) ¦(A PIECE OF SOMETHING)¦

a piece of something pressed tightly together

▪ a plug of tobacco

plug ²

plug² past tense and past participle plugged present participle plugging

v [T]

1.) also plug up

to fill or block a small hole

▪ We used mud to plug up the holes in the roof.

2.) to advertise a book, film etc by mentioning it on television or radio

▪ Arnie was on the show to plug his new movie.

3.) plug the gap

to provide something that is needed, because there is not enough

▪ With so few trained doctors, paramedics were brought in to plug the gap.

4.) AmE old-fashioned to shoot someone

plug away phr v

to keep working hard at something

plug away at

▪ If you keep plugging away at it, your English will improve.

plug in [plug sth<=>in] phr v

to connect a piece of electrical equipment to the main supply of electricity, or to another piece of electrical equipment

▪ 'Is your printer working?' 'Wait a minute - it's not plugged in.'

plug into [plug into sth] phr v

1.) plug (sth) into sth

to connect one piece of electrical equipment to another, or to be connected

▪ Your phone can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket in your car.

▪ Games consoles plug into the back of the TV.

2.) informal to realize that something is available to be used and use it

▪ A lot of students don't plug into all the research facilities we have.