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.

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.

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.

15. Slang.,  punch.

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, plugging 

1. to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often followed byup ).

   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, plugging 

1. to work with stubborn persistence (often followed by along oraway ).

   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. plug in

   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. plug up,  to become plugged.

   The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

3. plug into

   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 called: volcanic 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. 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

Other Word Forms

• pluggable adjective
• pluggingly adverb
• plugless adjective
• pluglike adjective
• plugger noun

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,

   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

• peg (plug) away at
• pull the plug on

Example Sentences

I appreciate the health and fitness plug, and because Kennedy and I are the same age — 71 — it’s impressive to see him in the gym.

From Los Angeles Times

The county was about to pull the plug.

From Los Angeles Times

Wissa's instincts in the box as well as his fitness record and ability to plug in make him an attractive proposition for Newcastle, who only had one player hit double figures last season.

From BBC

However, they must be suitably worried about Delap to have taken a shock decision to pull the plug on Jackson's move, at least for now, and bring him back to Stamford Bridge.

From BBC

The outlets in his dormitory were inoperable, and because of the overcrowding and short-staffing, guards couldn’t take him to another area to plug them in, said his fiancee, Mildred Pierre.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clog 
• fill 
• pack 
• seal 

When To Use

What else does plug mean?

Content warning: this article references illegal and illicit drugs.A plug (or the plug) is a person who has the ability to get or supply hard-to-find items, especially drugs.