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)

pipelined, pipelining 

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 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

California nurses’ organizations agree, saying that community colleges and CSU campuses in particular offer a pipeline to nursing jobs for lower-income, first-generation students of color and that these graduates provide culturally sensitive care.

From Los Angeles Times

"Our talent pipeline is world-renowned. And, whilst talent is everywhere, all too often opportunity is lacking," he said in his message, adding that there were more than 50 bursary recipients in Wales.

From BBC

Managing a network TV news division largely consists of keeping an eye on costs, ratings and maintaining a pipeline of stories for dozens of hours of scheduled programming each week.

From Los Angeles Times

The pivot would mark a major shift in Sable’s push to bring the pipelines back online.

From Los Angeles Times

A Ukrainian national has been arrested by police in Poland as part of the investigation into the 2022 explosions that sabotaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, his lawyer has said.

From BBC

Related Words

• agenda 
• almanac 
• card 
• chronology 
• diary 
• docket 
• journal 
• lineup 
• list 
• program 
• table 
• timetable