plug

American  

[pluhg] / plʌg /

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.

3. 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.

4. spark plug.

5. a fireplug or hydrant.

6. a cake of pressed tobacco.

7. a piece of tobacco cut off for chewing.

8. 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.

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

10. Geology. neck.

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

12. Informal. a shopworn or unsalable article.

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

14. a patch of scalp with viable hair follicles that is used as a graft for a bald part of the head.

15. Slang. punch.

16. Metalworking.

    1. a mandrel on which tubes are formed.

    2. a punch on which a cup is drawn.

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

    4. a false bottom on a die.

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

18. Masonry. plug and feathers

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

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verb (used with object)

plugged, plugging

1. to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often followed byup ).

   to plug up a leak; plug a gap.

2. to insert or drive a plug into.

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

4. to insert (something) as a plug.

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

6. to remove the center of (a coin) and replace it with a baser metal.

   a plugged nickel.

7. 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.

8. Slang. to punch with the fist.

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

verb (used without object)

plugged, plugging

1. to work with stubborn persistence (often followed by along oraway ).

   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.

3. Slang. to shoot or fire shots.

verb phrase

1. plug in

   1. to connect to an electrical power source.

      Plug the TV set in over there.

   2. Informal. to add or include; incorporate.

      They still have to plug in more research data.

2. plug up to become plugged.

   The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

3. plug into

   1. 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.

   2. Informal. to feel an affinity for; like; understand.

      Some kids just don't plug into sports in school.

idioms

1. pull the plug on,

   1. to discontinue or terminate.

      The government has threatened to pull the plug on further subsidies.

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

plug British  

/ 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

3. 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

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

5. See sparking plug

6. 1. a cake of pressed or twisted tobacco, esp for chewing

   2. a small piece of such a cake

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

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

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

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

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

12. an old horse

13. informal to put a stop to

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verb

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

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

4. slang (tr) to shoot with a gun

   he plugged six rabbits

5. slang (tr) to punch or strike

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

plug More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing plug

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

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Usage

What else does plug mean? Content warning: this article references illegal and illicit drugs.A plug (or the plug) is a person who has the ability to get or supply hard-to-find items, especially drugs.

Other Word Forms

• pluggable adjective
• plugger noun
• pluggingly adverb
• plugless adjective
• pluglike adjective

Etymology

Origin of plug

1620–30; < Dutch; cognate with German Pflock

Example Sentences

It took the Railroad Commission about 53 days and roughly $2.5 million to plug that leak.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most rock biopics have a similar rise-and-fall-and-rise arc; it’s a cliché that works, like plugging “Sweet Caroline” into a bar’s jukebox.

From Los Angeles Times

Ringo chants “Merry Christmas” alternating with “Magic Christian,” and then you hear him say, “It’s just a plug for the film, Ken. Try and keep it on.”

From Salon

Thankfully, more airlines are adding Bluetooth compatibility to screens, but meanwhile consider investing in the AirFly Pro 2, a tiny $60 dongle that plugs into the seat back screen and lets you use wireless headphones.

From The Wall Street Journal

"For example, when your child is sick, you need to plug in an inhaler, and it can't run on batteries."

From Barron's

Related Words

• clog
• fill
• pack
• seal