pump

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You're listening to Joanna
She has an American accent.

NGSL Rank: 2472
pump
pʌmp Listen
Meanings
noun
  • a mechanical device using suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gases, or force air into inflatable objects such as tyres.
    E.g. a petrol pump
  • an active transport mechanism in living cells by which specific ions are moved through the cell membrane against a concentration gradient.
    E.g. the bacterium's sodium pump
  • a pump-action shotgun.
    E.g. the shotgun was a 12-gauge pump
verb
  • force (liquid, gas, etc.) to move by or as if by means of a pump.
    E.g. the blood is pumped around the body
  • draw (milk) from the breast using a breast pump, typically in order to feed a baby by means of a bottle.
    E.g. she struggled with pumping enough milk
  • fill (something such as a tyre or balloon) with liquid or gas using a pump.
    E.g. I pumped the tyres and oiled the chain
  • move vigorously up and down.
    E.g. we had to pump the handle like mad
  • try to elicit information from (someone) by persistent questioning.
    E.g. she began to pump her friend for details
noun
  • a sports shoe; a plimsoll.
  • a court shoe.

Practise saying this word

pump
Joanna
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