Words / B2

PUMP/pʌmp/

A pump is a machine that forces liquid or gas to move; as a verb, to move something that way, or to try to get information: a water pump; pump out water. Pipe is the tube (see pipe); compressor is for gas under pressure. A failed pump closed the treatment works. Mix-up: plump; dump; punch. Do not call a tap a pump.

Meaning

A machine that forces liquid or gas to move; also to move something with that machine (verb).

Examples

• “A failed pump closed the treatment works, the water-board notice said.”
• “Pump the bike tyres before the field trip, which is the inflate sense.”

Good to know

a water / heat / bike pump; pump + liquid; pump out. Trap: tap / plump. Geography, PE, and news. A machine that moves fluid, or the verb.

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