Adjacent Words

Plug definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PLUG, n. A stopple; any piece of pointed wood or other substance used to stop a hole, but larger than a peg or spile.
Hawse-plug, in marine affairs, a plug to stop a hawse-hole.
Shot-plug, a plug to stop a breach made by a cannon ball in the side of a ship.
PLUG, v.t. To stop with a plug; to make tight by stopping a hole.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly [syn: plug, stopper, stopple]
2: a wad of something chewable as tobacco [syn: chew, chaw, cud, quid, plug, wad]
3: blatant or sensational promotion [syn: ballyhoo, hoopla, hype, plug]
4: electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of an internal-combustion engine and ignites the gas by means of an electric spark [syn: spark plug, sparking plug, plug]
5: an electrical device with two or three pins that is inserted in a socket to make an electrical connection [syn: plug, male plug]
6: an upright hydrant for drawing water to use in fighting a fire [syn: fireplug, fire hydrant, plug]
7: an old or over-worked horse [syn: hack, jade, nag, plug] v
1: fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug; "plug the hole"; "stop up the leak" [syn: plug, stop up, secure]
2: persist in working hard; "Students must plug away at this problem" [syn: plug, plug away]
3: deliver a quick blow to; "he punched me in the stomach" [syn: punch, plug]
4: make a plug for; praise the qualities or in order to sell or promote
5: insert a plug into; "plug the wall"
6: insert as a plug; "She plugged a cork in the wine bottle"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Dutch, from Middle Dutch plugge; akin to Middle High German pfloc plug Date: 1606 1. a. a piece used to fill a hole ; stopper b. an obtruding or obstructing mass of material resembling a stopper 2. a flat compressed cake of tobacco 3. a small core or segment removed from a larger object 4. something inferior; especially an inferior often aged or unsound horse 5. a. hydrant, fireplug b. spark plug 6. an artificial fishing lure used primarily for casting and made with one or more sets of gang hooks 7. any of various devices resembling or functioning like a plug: as a. a male fitting for making an electrical connection to a live circuit by insertion in a receptacle (as an outlet) b. a device for connecting electric wires to a jack 8. a piece of favorable publicity or a favorable mention usually incorporated in general matter II. verb (plugged; plugging) Date: 1630 transitive verb 1. a. to stop, make tight, or secure by inserting a plug b. to remedy (a deficiency) as if by inserting a plug <trying to plug the gaps in their understanding> 2. to hit with a bullet ; shoot 3. to advertise or publicize insistently intransitive verb 1. to become plugged — usually used with up 2. to work doggedly and persistently <plugged away at her homework> 3. to fire shots • plugger noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a piece of solid material fitting tightly into a hole, used to fill a gap or cavity or act as a wedge or stopper. 2 a a device of metal pins in an insulated casing fitting into holes in a socket for making an electrical connection, esp. between an appliance and the mains. b colloq. an electric socket. 3 = sparking-plug (see SPARK(1)). 4 colloq. a piece of (often free) publicity for an idea, product, etc. 5 a mass of solidified lava filling the neck of a volcano. 6 a cake or stick of tobacco; a piece of this for chewing. 7 = fire-plug. --v. (plugged, plugging) 1 tr. (often foll. by up) stop (a hole etc.) with a plug. 2 tr. sl. shoot or hit (a person etc.). 3 tr. colloq. seek to popularize (an idea, product, etc.) by constant recommendation. 4 intr. colloq. (often foll. by at) work steadily away (at). Phrases and idioms: plug in connect electrically by inserting a plug in a socket. plug-in adj. able to be connected by means of a plug. plug-ugly US sl. n. (pl. -ies) a thug or ruffian. --adj. villainous-looking. Derivatives: plugger n. Etymology: MDu. & MLG plugge, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Plug Plug, n. Breech plug (Gun.), in breech-loading guns, the metal plug or cylinder which closes the aperture in the breech, through which the gun is loaded. Plug board Plug board (Elec.) A switchboard in which connections are made by means of plugs.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Plug Plug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Plugging.] To stop with a plug; to make tight by stopping a hole.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Plug Plug, n. [Akin to D. plug, G. pflock, Dan. pl["o]k, plug, Sw. plugg; cf. W. ploc.] 1. Any piece of wood, metal, or other substance used to stop or fill a hole; a stopple. 2. A flat oblong cake of pressed tobacco. [U. S.] 3. A high, tapering silk hat. [Slang, U.S.] 4. A worthless horse. [Slang, U.S.] 5. (Building) A block of wood let into a wall, to afford a hold for nails. Fire plug, a street hydrant to which hose may be attached. [U. S.] Hawse plug (Naut.), a plug to stop a hawse hole. Plug and feather. (Stone Working) See Feather, n., 7. Plug centerbit, a centerbit ending in a small cylinder instead of a point, so as to follow and enlarge a hole previously made, or to form a counterbore around it. Plug rod (Steam Eng.), a rod attached to the beam for working the valves, as in the Cornish engine. Plug valve (Mech.), a tapering valve, which turns in a case like the plug of a faucet.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(plugs, plugging, plugged) 1. A plug on a piece of electrical equipment is a small plastic object with two or three metal pins which fit into the holes of an electric socket and connects the equipment to the electricity supply. N-COUNT 2. A plug is an electric socket. (INFORMAL) N-COUNT 3. A plug is a thick, circular piece of rubber or plastic that you use to block the hole in a bath or sink when it is filled with water. She put the plug in the sink and filled it with cold water. N-COUNT 4. A plug is a small, round piece of wood, plastic, or wax which is used to block holes. A plug had been inserted in the drill hole. N-COUNT 5. If you plug a hole, you block it with something. Crews are working to plug a major oil leak. VERB: V n 6. If someone plugs a commercial product, especially a book or a film, they praise it in order to encourage people to buy it or see it because they have an interest in it doing well. We did not want people on the show who are purely interested in plugging a book or film. = promote VERB: V n • Plug is also a noun. Let's do this show tonight and it'll be a great plug, a great promotion. N-COUNT 7. see also earplug, spark plug 8. If someone in a position of power pulls the plug on a project or on someone's activities, they use their power to stop them continuing. The banks have the power to pull the plug on the project. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR on n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Stopple, stopper. 2. Chew, quid.

Moby Thesaurus

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