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plug
plug / pləg/ • n. 1. an obstruction blocking a hole, pipe, etc.: somewhere in the pipes there is a plug of ice blocking the flow. ∎ a circular piece of metal, rubber, or plastic used to stop the drain of a bathtub or basin and keep the water in it. ∎ inf. a baby's pacifier. ∎ a mass of solidified lava filling the neck of an old volcano. ∎ (in gardening) a young plant or clump of grass with a small mass of soil protecting its roots, for planting in the ground. 2. a device for making an electrical connection, esp. between an appliance and a power supply, consisting of an insulated casing with metal pins that fit into holes in an outlet. ∎ short for spark plug. 3. inf. a piece of publicity promoting a product, event, or establishment: he threw in a plug, boasting that the restaurant offered many entrées for under $5. 4. a piece of tobacco cut from a larger cake for chewing. ∎ (also plug tobacco) tobacco in large cakes designed to be cut for chewing. 5. Fishing a lure with one or more hooks attached. 6. short for fireplug. 7. inf. a tired or old horse. • v. (plugged , plug·ging ) [tr.] 1. block or fill in (a hole or cavity): trucks arrived loaded with gravel to plug the hole and clear the road | fig. the new sanctions are meant to plug the gaps in the trade embargo. ∎ insert (something) into an opening so as to fill it: the baby plugged his thumb into his mouth. 2. inf. mention (a product, event, or establishment) publicly in order to promote it: during the show he plugged his new record. 3. inf. shoot or hit (someone or something). 4. [intr.] inf. proceed steadily and laboriously with a journey or task: during the years of poverty, he plugged away at his writing. PHRASES: pull the plugsee pull.PHRASAL VERBS: plug something in connect an electrical appliance to a power supply by inserting a plug into an outlet. plug into (of an electrical appliance) be connected to another appliance by a plug inserted in an outlet. ∎ gain or have access to a system of computerized information: we plug into the research facilities available at the institute. ∎ fig. become knowledgeable about and involved with: the good thing about this job is that I'm plugged into what's going on. DERIVATIVES: plug·ger n. |
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Cite this article
"plug." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plug." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plug.html "plug." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plug.html |
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plug
plug.
1. A tapering piece of wood or a screwed metal stopper, used to stop the drain hole in the bottom of a small boat. Warfare at sea during the days of sail made it necessary to carry a number of wooden plugs of varying sizes to stop shot holes after battle, particularly those below the waterline. It was one of the carpenter's duties after battle to inspect the hull for shot holes and hammer home the plugs. 2. The name given to the pattern, or male former, on which the moulds for hulls of small craft, such as yachts and harbour boats, are moulded in GRP. |
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Cite this article
"plug." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plug." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-plug.html "plug." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-plug.html |
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plug
plug piece of wood, etc. to stop a hole, etc. XVII; cock of water-pipe; tobacco pressed into a cake XVIII. — MLG., MDu. plugge (Du. plug); of unkn. orig.
Hence plug vb. XVII. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "plug." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "plug." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plug.html T. F. HOAD. "plug." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plug.html |
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plug
plug See VOLCANIC PLUG.
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "plug." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "plug." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-plug.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "plug." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-plug.html |
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plug
plug •bug, chug, Doug, drug, dug, fug, glug, hug, jug, lug, mug, plug, pug, rug, shrug, slug, smug, snug, thug, trug, tug
•bedbug • ladybug • doodlebug
•humbug • firebug • thunderbug
•jitterbug, litterbug
•shutterbug • Rawlplug • earplug
•fireplug • hearthrug
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Cite this article
"plug." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "plug." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-plug.html "plug." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-plug.html |
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