plug
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.
a core or interior segment taken from a larger matrix.
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.
a fireplug or hydrant.
a cake of pressed tobacco.
a piece of tobacco cut off for chewing.
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.
Angling. an artificial lure made of wood, plastic, or metal, and fitted with one or more gang hooks, used chiefly in casting.
Geology. neck (def. 14).
Slang. a worn-out or inferior horse.
Informal. a shopworn or unsalable article.
a small piece of sod used especially for seeding a lawn.
a patch of scalp with viable hair follicles that is used as a graft for a bald part of the head.: Compare hair transplant.
Slang. punch1 (def. 1).
Metalworking.
a mandrel on which tubes are formed.
a punch on which a cup is drawn.
a protrusion on a forging die for forming a recess in the work.
a false bottom on a die.
Also called dook. a small piece of wood inserted into masonry as a hold for a nail.
Masonry. See under plug and feathers.
Also called plug hat . a man's tall silk hat.
to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often followed by up): to plug up a leak; plug a gap.
to insert or drive a plug into.
to secure with or as if with a plug.
to insert (something) as a plug.
to remove a core or a small plug-shaped piece from.
to remove the center of (a coin) and replace it with a baser metal: a plugged nickel.
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.
Slang. to punch with the fist.
Slang. to shoot or strike with a bullet.
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.
Informal. to publicize insistently: Whenever he gets the chance, he's plugging for his company.
Slang. to shoot or fire shots.
plug in,
to connect to an electrical power source: Plug the TV set in over there.
Informal. to add or include; incorporate: They still have to plug in more research data.
plug into,
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.
Informal. to feel an affinity for; like; understand: Some kids just don't plug into sports in school.
plug up, to become plugged: The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.
Idioms about plug
pull the plug on, Informal.
to discontinue or terminate: The government has threatened to pull the plug on further subsidies.
to disconnect life-sustaining equipment from (a moribund patient).
Origin of plug
1Other words from plug
- plug·ga·ble, adjective
- plug·ging·ly, adverb
- plugless, adjective
- pluglike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for plug
/ (plʌɡ) /
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
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
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
Also called: volcanic plug a mass of solidified magma filling the neck of an extinct volcano
See sparking plug
a cake of pressed or twisted tobacco, esp for chewing
a small piece of such a cake
angling a weighted artificial lure with one or more sets of hooks attached, used in spinning
a seedling with its roots encased in potting compost, grown in a tray with compartments for each individual plant
informal a recommendation or other favourable mention of a product, show, etc, as on television, on radio, or in newspapers
slang a shot, blow, or punch (esp in the phrase take a plug at)
informal the mechanism that releases water to flush a lavatory (esp in the phrase pull the plug)
mainly US an old horse
pull the plug on informal to put a stop to
(tr) to stop up or secure (a hole, gap, etc) with or as if with a plug
(tr) to insert or use (something) as a plug: to plug a finger into one's ear
(tr) informal to make favourable and often-repeated mentions of (a song, product, show, etc), esp on television, on radio, or in newspapers
(tr) slang to shoot with a gun: he plugged six rabbits
(tr) slang to punch or strike
(intr; foll by along, away, etc) informal to work steadily or persistently
Origin of plug
1Derived forms of plug
- plugger, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with plug
In addition to the idiom beginning with plug
- plug away at
- plugged in, be
also see:
- peg (plug) away at
- pull the plug on
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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