plug

[ pluhg ]

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 ( def 1 ).
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 ( def 14 ).
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. Compare hair transplant.
15. Slang. punch ¹( def 1 ).
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.

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.
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, 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.

3. Slang. to shoot or fire shots.

verb phrase

1. 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. to become plugged:

   The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

3. 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.

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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈplugger, noun

Other Words From

• plugga·ble adjective
• plugging·ly adverb
• plugless adjective
• pluglike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plug¹

1620–30; < Dutch; cognate with German Pflock

Word History and Origins

Origin of plug¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pull the plug on, Informal.
   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).

More idioms and phrases containing plug

In addition to the idiom beginning with plug , also see peg (plug) away at ; pull the plug on .

Related Words

• clog
• fill
• pack
• seal