PUMPS | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

late Middle English (originally in nautical use): related to Dutch pomp ‘ship's pump’ (earlier in the sense ‘wooden or metal conduit’), probably partly of imitative origin

a mechanical device using suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gases, or force air into inflatable objects such as tyres

device for moving liquids, forcing air into tyres, etc.

• a petrol pump

an active transport mechanism in living cells by which specific ions are moved through the cell membrane against a concentration gradient

mechanism moving ions through cell membrane

• the bacterium's sodium pump

a pump-action shotgun

pump-action shotgun

• the shotgun was a 12-gauge pump

force (liquid, gas, etc.) to move by or as if by means of a pump

move liquid, gas, etc. with pump

• the blood is pumped around the body

draw (milk) from the breast using a breast pump, typically in order to feed a baby by means of a bottle

draw milk from breast

• she struggled with pumping enough milk
• I've exclusively pumped for my youngest

fill (something such as a tyre or balloon) with liquid or gas using a pump

fill with liquid, gas, etc.

• I pumped the tyres and oiled the chain
• my veins had been pumped full of glucose

move vigorously up and down

move vigorously up and down

• we had to pump the handle like mad
• that's superb running—look at his legs pumping

try to elicit information from (someone) by persistent questioning

try to elicit information from

• she began to pump her friend for details
• I pumped him about his political activities