plug

1 of 2

noun

ˈpləg 

1

a

: a piece used to fill a hole : stopper

b

: an obtruding or obstructing mass of material resembling a stopper

2

: a flat compressed cake of tobacco

3

: a small core or segment removed from a larger object

4

: something inferior

especially : an inferior often aged or unsound horse

5

a

: hydrant, fireplug

b

: spark plug

6

: an artificial fishing lure used primarily for casting and made with one or more sets of gang hooks

7

: any of various devices resembling or functioning like a plug: such as

a

: a male fitting for making an electrical connection to a live circuit by insertion in a receptacle (such as an outlet)

b

: a device for connecting electric wires to a jack

8

: a piece of favorable publicity or a favorable mention usually incorporated in general matter

plug

2 of 2

verb

plugged; plugging

transitive verb

1

a

: to stop, make tight, or secure by inserting a plug

b

: to remedy (a deficiency) as if by inserting a plug

trying to plug the gaps in their understanding

2

: to hit with a bullet : shoot

3

: to advertise or publicize insistently

intransitive verb

1

: to become plugged

—usually used with up

2

: to work doggedly and persistently

plugged away at her homework

3

: to fire shots

plugger noun

Phrases

plug into

1

: to connect or become connected to by or as if by means of a plug

the city was plugged into the new highway system

2

: to load into as if by means of a plug

plugged the data into a computer

Synonyms

Verb

• block
• bung
• dam
• fill
• pack
• stop
• stuff

Examples of plug in a Sentence

Verb

We were able to plug the hole with cement.

One of the DJs on the local radio station has been plugging the band's new album.

He plugged him right in the chest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Boeing already took a hit to deliveries last quarter after a door plug blew out on one of its 737 Max planes mid-flight in January, causing the aircraft to be grounded as regulators inspected the planes for safety concerns. —Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

The law gives property owners and landlords various reasons to pull the plug on a lease renewal. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024

WalletHub's data predated the Jan. 5, 2024, incident where a door plug blew out on one of Alaska's Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets. —Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

The company is adding an EV charger filter to its travel search tool so EV owners can find spots with charging plugs. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 17 Apr. 2024

Once the chalky fungal plug is ripped apart, the infected and disemboweled cicada flies around, raining down fluffy, brown spores. —Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024

Keep in Mind Assembly and placement of the Lettuce Grow was somewhat difficult and the proprietary seedling plugs are expensive. —Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024

Fortune Spain scraps the golden visa Spain is pulling the plug on its golden visa scheme, dealing a serious blow to foreign investors, particularly post-Brexit Brits. —Alex Wood Morton, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024

Boeing handed over $160 million to Alaska Airlines to make up for the carrier’s losses after a January incident in which a door plug flew off one of its Boeing planes. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Verb

The panel plugged a space left for an extra emergency door on the jet, which was operated by Alaska Airlines. —David Hamilton, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024

There’s nothing like the naked body of septuagenarian rock star plugging a definitely-not-real OnlyFans to remind you that today is, in fact, April Fools’ Day. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024

The auditor deemed our house moderately porous—no surprise, given its age—but didn’t see anything obvious to plug. —Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024

There you can get plugged into quarterly or annual gatherings that may be happening around graduation, Convocation Days, or Homecoming celebrations. —Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Although no injuries were reported in any of the incidents, consumers, investors, and regulators, are on the lookout for any problems due to the the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January. —William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024

The focus on reducing friction and plugging existing leaks, particularly from small 401(k) accounts, underscores the commitment to safeguarding individuals' retirement security. —Brian Menickella, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The auditor deemed our house moderately porous — no surprise, given its age — but didn’t see anything obvious to plug. —Tik Root, Grist, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024

If the construction of this keyboard is the same as the last, expect both of these accessories to be wired and to plug into the top of the keyboard via 3.5mm jacks. —Jon Porter, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch, from Middle Dutch plugge; akin to Middle High German pfloc plug

First Known Use

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1630, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing plug

• give a plug for
• glow plug
• plug and play
• plug away
• plug hat
• plug in
• plug into
• plug-ugly
• pull the plug
• put in a plug for
• sparking plug
• spark plug
• wall plug

Kids Definition

plug

1 of 2 noun

ˈpləg 

1

: a piece used to close or fill a hole

2

: a flat cake of tightly pressed tobacco leaves

3

: something of lesser quality

especially : a worn-out horse

4

: spark plug sense 1

5

: a lure with several hooks used in casting for fish

6

: a device usually on a cord used to make an electrical connection by putting it into another part (as a socket)

7

: a piece of favorable publicity

plug

2 of 2 verb

plugged; plugging

1

: to stop, make tight, or secure with or as if with a plug

plug the leak with tar

2

: to hit with a bullet : shoot

3

: to advertise or publicize over and over

4

: to become plugged

—usually used with up

the drain was plugged up

5

: to keep steadily at work or in action

plugged away at my homework

plugger noun

Medical Definition

plug

1 of 2 noun

ˈpləg 

: a piece of material (as wood or alloy) used or serving to fill a hole: as

a

: the piece in a cock that can be turned to regulate the flow of liquid or gas

b

: an obstructing mass of material in a bodily vessel or opening (as of the cervix or a skin lesion)

c

: a filling for a hollow tooth

plug

2 of 2 transitive verb

plugged; plugging

1

: to stop, make tight, or secure (as an opening) by or as if by insertion of a plug : close an opening in

2

: to fill a cavity in (a tooth)