Pump Meaning
/pʌmp/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas.
nounAn instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping.
Sentence Examples
The pump did not act as it should have.
Could you show me how to use this pump?
An electric motor is used to pump the water.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer used a ____ to draw water from the deep well.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer used an electric ____ to draw water from the well and irrigate the fields.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pumpe, possibly from Middle Dutch pompe (“pipe, water conduit”) or Middle Low German pumpe (“pump”), probably ultimately imitative. Compare Dutch pompen, German pumpen, and Danish pompe; also Spanish bomba (“pump”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Trump thinks: If I can actually end this war and lift sanctions on Russia, Russian oil will swamp the global market, it’ll drive down the price of gasoline at the pump and I will win the midterms."
— 2025 February 20, Thomas L. Friedman, Patrick Healy, Jillian Weinberger, “Tom Friedman on Just How Far Trump Could Push the World”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
"Want a skin-stretching pump? Up the volume by using high-rep sets.
A great pump is better than coming."
— 2010, Eric Velazquez, “Power Pairings” (17::83 from the start), in Reps!, spoken by Arnold Schwarzenegger:
"Thus to and again to our paſtime we went, / And my Cards I play'd fairly to Jenny's content; / I work'd at her Pump till my Sucker grew dry, / Then I left pumping, a good Reaſon why."
— 1750, “Ge ho, Dobbin or the Waggoner”, in The Tulip, page 2:
"The underlying cause of the warming is human activities pumping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, scientists say. But the reasons why marine heating is speeding up now are far from clear."
— 2023 August 7, Clive Cookson, “Missing ice and bleached coral: the sudden warming of the oceans”, in Financial Times:
"Pump him soundly, impudent Fellow."
— 1676, Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer used a ____ to draw water from the deep well.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer used an electric ____ to draw water from the well and irrigate the fields.