plug

[ pluhg ]
See synonyms for: plugpluggedplugging on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a piece of wood or other material used to stop up a hole or aperture, to fill a gap, or to act as a wedge.

  2. a core or interior segment taken from a larger matrix.

  1. Electricity. a device to which may be attached the conductors of a cord and which by insertion in a jack, or screwing into a receptacle, establishes contact.

  2. a fireplug or hydrant.

  3. a cake of pressed tobacco.

  4. a piece of tobacco cut off for chewing.

  5. Informal. the favorable mention of something, as in a lecture, radio show, etc.; advertisement; recommendation: The actress was happy to give her new show a plug.

  6. Angling. an artificial lure made of wood, plastic, or metal, and fitted with one or more gang hooks, used chiefly in casting.

  7. Geology. neck (def. 14).

  8. Slang. a worn-out or inferior horse.

  9. Informal. a shopworn or unsalable article.

  10. a small piece of sod used especially for seeding a lawn.

  11. a patch of scalp with viable hair follicles that is used as a graft for a bald part of the head.: Compare hair transplant.

  12. Metalworking.

    • a mandrel on which tubes are formed.

    • a punch on which a cup is drawn.

    • a protrusion on a forging die for forming a recess in the work.

    • a false bottom on a die.

  13. Also called dook. a small piece of wood inserted into masonry as a hold for a nail.

  14. Masonry. See under plug and feathers.

  15. Also called plug hat . a man's tall silk hat.

verb (used with object),plugged, plug·ging.
  1. to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often followed by up): to plug up a leak; plug a gap.

  2. to insert or drive a plug into.

  1. to secure with or as if with a plug.

  2. to insert (something) as a plug.

  3. to remove a core or a small plug-shaped piece from.

  4. to remove the center of (a coin) and replace it with a baser metal: a plugged nickel.

  5. Informal. to mention (something) favorably, as in a lecture, radio show, etc.: He says he will appear if he can plug his new TV series.

  6. Slang. to punch with the fist.

  7. Slang. to shoot or strike with a bullet.

verb (used without object),plugged, plug·ging.
  1. to work with stubborn persistence (often followed by along or away): You're doing a fine job—just keep plugging. Some writers will plug away at the same novel for several years.

  2. Informal. to publicize insistently: Whenever he gets the chance, he's plugging for his company.

  1. Slang. to shoot or fire shots.

Verb Phrases
  1. plug in,

    • to connect to an electrical power source: Plug the TV set in over there.

    • Informal. to add or include; incorporate: They still have to plug in more research data.

  2. plug into,

    • to connect or become connected by or as if by means of a plug: The device will plug into any convenient wall outlet. The proposed new departments would eventually plug into the overall organizational plan.

    • Informal. to feel an affinity for; like; understand: Some kids just don't plug into sports in school.

  1. plug up, to become plugged: The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

Idioms about plug

  1. pull the plug on, Informal.

    • to discontinue or terminate: The government has threatened to pull the plug on further subsidies.

    • to disconnect life-sustaining equipment from (a moribund patient).

Origin of plug

1
1620–30; <Dutch; cognate with German Pflock

Other words from plug

  • plug·ga·ble, adjective
  • plug·ging·ly, adverb
  • plugless, adjective
  • pluglike, adjective

Words Nearby plug

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use plug in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plug

plug

/ (plʌɡ) /


noun
  1. a piece of wood, cork, or other material, often cylindrical in shape, used to stop up holes and gaps or as a wedge for taking a screw or nail

  2. such a stopper used esp to close the waste pipe of a bath, basin, or sink while it is in use and removed to let the water drain away

  1. a device having one or more pins to which an electric cable is attached: used to make an electrical connection when inserted into a socket

  2. Also called: volcanic plug a mass of solidified magma filling the neck of an extinct volcano

    • a cake of pressed or twisted tobacco, esp for chewing

    • a small piece of such a cake

  3. angling a weighted artificial lure with one or more sets of hooks attached, used in spinning

  4. a seedling with its roots encased in potting compost, grown in a tray with compartments for each individual plant

  5. informal a recommendation or other favourable mention of a product, show, etc, as on television, on radio, or in newspapers

  6. slang a shot, blow, or punch (esp in the phrase take a plug at)

  7. informal the mechanism that releases water to flush a lavatory (esp in the phrase pull the plug)

  8. mainly US an old horse

  9. pull the plug on informal to put a stop to

verbplugs, plugging or plugged
  1. (tr) to stop up or secure (a hole, gap, etc) with or as if with a plug

  2. (tr) to insert or use (something) as a plug: to plug a finger into one's ear

  1. (tr) informal to make favourable and often-repeated mentions of (a song, product, show, etc), esp on television, on radio, or in newspapers

  2. (tr) slang to shoot with a gun: he plugged six rabbits

  3. (tr) slang to punch or strike

  4. (intr; foll by along, away, etc) informal to work steadily or persistently

Origin of plug

1
C17: from Middle Dutch plugge; related to Middle Low German plugge, German Pflock

Derived forms of plug

  • plugger, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with plug

plug

In addition to the idiom beginning with plug

  • plug away at
  • plugged in, be

also see:

  • peg (plug) away at
  • pull the plug on

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.