pipeline

[ pahyp-lahyn ]

noun

1. a long tubular conduit or series of pipes, often underground, with pumps and valves for flow control, used to transport crude oil, natural gas, water, etc., especially over great distances.
2. a route, channel, or process along which something passes or is provided at a steady rate; means, system, or flow of supply or supplies:

   Freighters and cargo planes are a pipeline for overseas goods.

3. a channel of information, especially one that is direct, privileged, or confidential; inside source; reliable contact.

verb (used with object)

, pipe·lined, pipe·lin·ing.

1. to convey by or as if by pipeline:

   to pipeline oil from the far north to ice-free ports; to pipeline graduates into the top jobs.

pipeline

/ ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a long pipe, esp underground, used to transport oil, natural gas, etc, over long distances
2. a medium of communication, esp a private one
3. in the pipeline
   in the pipeline in the process of being completed, delivered, or produced

verb

1. to convey by pipeline
2. to supply with a pipeline

Word History and Origins

Origin of pipeline¹

First recorded in 1855–60; pipe ¹ + line ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the pipeline,
   1. Informal. in the process of being developed, provided, or completed; in the works; under way.
   2. Government Informal. (of funds) authorized but not spent.

Example Sentences

As for Energy Transfer, during the heat of the impeachment investigation in October 2019, the Ukrainian Parliament decided that selling the country’s gas pipelines wasn’t such a great idea, and it voted to ban foreign ownership of those pipelines.

From ProPublica

Following an early-2019 warning from then–American Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, Washington followed through in December by formally threatening to impose sanctions on any company aiding the construction of the pipeline.

From Fortune

We have a different proposition that’s less focused solely on media buying so our new business pipeline is less reliant on the pitch market.

From Digiday

The lawyer’s review usually takes two additional weeks or more, so that loans that in most periods go from shopping to closing in two months, now stay in the pipeline for 90 days.

From Fortune

It may be the case that the copywriters are not receiving tasks early or there is no quality control down the content pipeline.

From Search Engine Watch

Congress is nearing a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, and lawmakers made their cases for—and against—it Sunday.

From The Daily Beast

The State Department found that with high oil prices, the tar sands would be mined for oil, pipeline or no.

From The Daily Beast

The EPA felt that the State Department had not looked carefully enough at the impact of the pipeline if oil prices fell.

From The Daily Beast

But with the pipeline, transportation costs drop and production would be higher.

From The Daily Beast

Therefore, we should—you guessed it—develop the Canadian tar sands and build the Keystone pipeline.

From The Daily Beast

It tore the pipeline from its tormentors' hands and drove them away with threats of swift immolation.

From Project Gutenberg

Most liquid petroleum products and natural gas are moved via pipeline.

From Project Gutenberg

Vlore is a better natural port and is the terminus of the oil pipeline.

From Project Gutenberg

You have a pretty active pipeline into Stigma circles, don't you?

From Project Gutenberg

Naputul ang kuniksyun sa túbu, The connection in the pipeline broke.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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