Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×
1

pump

noun \ ˈpəmp \

Definition of pump

1 : a device that raises, transfers, delivers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both
2 : heart
3 : an act or the process of pumping
4 : an energy source (such as light) for pumping atoms or molecules
5 : a biological mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes — compare sodium pump

Origin and Etymology of pump

Middle English pumpe, pompe; akin to Middle Low German pumpe pump, Middle Dutch pompe

2

pump

verb

Definition of pump

pumped; pumping; pumps
intransitive verb
1 : to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump
2 : to exert oneself to pump or as if to pump something
3 : to move in a manner that resembles the action of a pump handle
transitive verb
1 a : to raise (something, such as water) with a pump
b : to draw fluid from with a pump
2 : to pour forth, deliver, or draw with or as if with a pump
  • pumped money into the economy
  • pump new life into the classroom
3 a : to question persistently
  • pumped him for the information
b : to elicit by persistent questioning
4 a : to operate by manipulating a lever
b : to manipulate as if operating a pump handle
  • pumped my hand warmly
c : to cause to move with an action resembling that of a pump handle
  • a runner pumping her arms
5 : to transport (something, such as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy
6 a : to excite (atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)
b : to energize (something, such as a laser) by pumping
— pump iron
: to lift weights

See pump defined for English-language learners

Examples of pump in a Sentence

  1. He pumped the water up from the bottom of the boat.

  2. The machine suddenly stopped pumping.

  3. We pumped the boat dry.

  4. We had to pump the basement out.

  5. Your heart pumps blood all over your body.

  6. I could feel the blood pumping through my veins.

  7. Blood pumped out of the cut.

First Known Use of pump

1508

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

pump Synonyms

Synonyms

bleed, draft, drain, draw (off), siphon (also syphon), tap;

Antonyms

fill;

Near Antonyms

bathe, douse (also dowse), drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet;

deluge, drown, flood, inundate, overflow;

submerge, swamp;

Related Words

milk;

suck;

clear, empty, evacuate, exhaust, vacate, vacuate, void;

decant, effuse;

deplete;

clean, flush, purge;

3

pump

noun

Definition of pump

: a shoe that grips the foot chiefly at the toe and heel; especially : a close-fitting woman's dress shoe with a moderate to high heel

Origin and Etymology of pump

origin unknown

Phrases Related to PUMP

Related Phrases

PUMP Defined for English Language Learners

pump

verb

Definition of pump for English Language Learners

  • : to move something (such as water, air, or gas) to or from a particular place with a pump

  • : to remove water, air, etc., from (something) with a pump

  • : to remove the contents of (someone's stomach) by using a tube and a small pump

PUMP Defined for Kids

1

pump

noun

Definition of pump for Students

: a device for raising, moving, or compressing liquids or gases
2

pump

verb \ ˈpəmp \

Definition of pump for Students

pumped; pumping
1 : to raise, move, or compress by using a pump
  • pump water
2 : to fill by using a pump
  • I pumped up my tires.
3 : to draw, force, or drive onward in the manner of a pump
  • The heart pumps blood through the body.
4 : to question again and again to find out something
  • She proceeded to pump me about my family and circumstances …
  • —Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted
5 : to move (something) up and down or in and out quickly and repeatedly
  • He pumped his fist in the air.
6 : to remove (a liquid or gas) from by using a pump
  • We pumped the boat dry.

Medical Dictionary

1

pump

noun \ ˈpəmp \

medical Definition of pump

1 : a device that raises, transfers, or compresses fluids or that attenuates gases especially by suction or pressure or both
2 : heart
3 : an act or the process of pumping
4 : an energy source (as light) for pumping atoms or molecules
5 : a mechanism by which atoms, ions, or molecules are transported across cell membranes — see proton pump, sodium pump
2

pump

intransitive verb

medical Definition of pump

: to work a pump : raise or move a fluid with a pump
transitive verb
1 : to raise (as water) with a pump
2 : to draw fluid from with a pump
3 : to transport (as ions) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of energy
4 a : to excite (as atoms or molecules) especially so as to cause emission of coherent monochromatic electromagnetic radiation (as in a laser)
b : to energize (as a laser) by pumping

Learn More about pump

  1. See words that rhyme with pump Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pump Spanish Central: Translation of pump Nglish: Translation of pump for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pump for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pump

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pump? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

pump

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games