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Synonyms

plug-in

American  
[pluhg-in] / ˈplʌgˌɪn /

adjective

  1. capable of or designed for being connected to an electrical power source by plugging in or inserting: a plug-in transistor.

    a plug-in hair dryer;

    a plug-in transistor.

noun

  1. plug.

  2. jack.

  3. a plug-in appliance.

  4. Computers. a small software program that builds additional functionality into a stand-alone computer application.

    Your web browser can’t display this video without a plug-in.
plug in British  

verb

  1. (tr, adverb) to connect (an electrical appliance) with a power source by means of an electrical plug

"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

noun

  1. a device that can be connected by means of a plug

  2. computing a module or piece of software that can be added to a system to provide extra functions or features, esp software that enhances the capabilities of a web browser

  3. computing ( as modifier )

    plug-in memory cards
"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
plug-in Scientific  
/ plŭg′ĭn′ /

  1. An accessory software or hardware package that is used in conjunction with an existing application or device to extend its capabilities or provide additional functions.

Etymology

Origin of plug-in

First recorded in 1920–25; adjective and noun use of verb phrase plug in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It also said plug-in panels that homeowners can self-install on balconies would be available in supermarkets in the coming months.

From BBC

The Chinese plug-in hybrid specialist is grappling with flagging sales while it tries to make headway in the highly competitive full-electric market.

From The Wall Street Journal

By the end of 2027, it will have launched 30 new all-electric, plug-in hybrid and range-extended models in China and it is tapping into export opportunities for the models into new markets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chinese EV competition is fierce, and electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, account for more than half of all new car sales.

From Barron's

Chinese EV competition is fierce, and electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, account for more than half of all new car sales.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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