pump
/pʌmp/ (bre, ipa) · /pʌmp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpəmp/ (ame, mw)
pump — noun
- pumpsingular
- pumpsplural
1. A device that uses suction or pressure to push liquids (such as water or oil) or
A device that uses suction or pressure to push liquids (such as water or oil) or gases (such as air) through pipes or out of one area into another.
The farmer used a hand pump to bring water from the well for his cattle.
hand pump / bring water from [source]
When the basement flooded, Lakan borrowed an electric pump to remove the standing water.
Mechanics use an air pump to fill car tyres with compressed air.
The old water pump in the garden finally broke after thirty years of daily use.
- pump mechanism
more technical; used in engineering contexts
- suction pump
specific type that uses suction to move fluids
- plug
a plug stops flow; a pump enables flow
文法句型
pump + of + noun
compound: [material/function] + pump
用法筆記
Often appears in compound nouns that name the type or purpose: hand pump, air pump, water pump, petrol pump, heart pump.
常見錯誤
2. A woman's flat shoe with a thin sole and simple design, similar in style to the
A woman's flat shoe with a thin sole and simple design, similar in style to the soft shoes worn by ballet dancers.
Maeve wore black pumps with her summer dress to the outdoor concert.
Anjali bought a pair of red leather pumps for the wedding reception.
pair of + pumps
The dance studio sells soft pumps with canvas uppers for beginners.
Yuki wore thin-soled pumps that looked like ballet slippers to a summer wedding.
- ballet flat
more common term in American English for this style
- dancer shoe
descriptive term, less common
文法句型
pair of + pumps
用法筆記
In American English, this style is usually called 'ballet flats' rather than 'pumps.' The word 'pumps' in US English refers instead to heeled dress shoes (see noun sense 3).
常見錯誤
3. A women's smart shoe with a heel and a slip-on style that has no straps, laces,
A women's smart shoe with a heel and a slip-on style that has no straps, laces, or other fasteners, worn with formal or business clothing.
Ziad's grandmother polished her black patent pumps before the family dinner.
patent pumps / polished
The bride chose white satin pumps with a low heel for her wedding day.
Élise wore navy blue pumps with her business suit to the annual conference.
Isabela found a pair of comfortable pumps that matched her evening gown perfectly.
- court shoe
British term for the same style of heeled women's shoe
- high heel
broader term for any shoe with a tall heel; not all have the pump's no-fastening design
文法句型
pair of + pumps
用法筆記
In British English this style is sometimes called a 'court shoe.' In American English, 'pump' by itself almost always refers to this heeled style rather than the flat ballet style (noun sense 2).
常見錯誤
4. A flat, hard-wearing cloth shoe with a rubber sole, used by children for sports
A flat, hard-wearing cloth shoe with a rubber sole, used by children for sports or physical education at school.
The children changed into their pumps before the PE lesson started.
changed into + pumps / PE lesson
Kenji's school pumps had white rubber soles and blue canvas uppers.
Folake packed her son's pumps in a bag for the school sports day.
The teacher reminded every child to bring clean pumps for the gym class on Friday.
文法句型
pair of + pumps
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British. The same type of shoe is called 'plimsolls,' 'gym shoes,' or 'trainers' in different varieties of English.
常見錯誤
pump — verb
- pumppresent simple I / you / we / they
- pumpshe / she / it
- pumpedpast simple
- pumping-ing form
1. To use a pump or similar mechanical action to send a liquid (like water or fuel)
To use a pump or similar mechanical action to send a liquid (like water or fuel) or a gas (like air) through a tube, pipe, or passage.
The worker pumped the water out of the flooded shed with a small electric pump.
pump + noun + out of [location]
Bilal's heart pumps blood to every part of his body through a network of arteries.
The fire crew pumped water from the river to put out the forest fire.
Air is pumped into the diving tank before each training session for safety reasons.
- suck
draws in rather than pushes out; opposite direction of flow
文法句型
pump + noun (liquid/gas) + adverb/preposition
pump + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs of direction (out, in, into, through, from). The object is typically a substance — liquid (water, oil, blood) or gas (air). Also used intransitively for the heart or mechanical pumps: 'His heart was pumping fast.'
常見錯誤
2. To ask someone many questions in a careful or indirect way in order to discover
To ask someone many questions in a careful or indirect way in order to discover facts that they may not want to tell you.
The journalist tried to pump the politician for information about the new tax policy.
pump + person + for + information
Lakan's friends pumped him for details about his job interview at the tech company.
During dinner, Aunt Rosa pumped the children for news about their school and hobbies.
The police pumped the suspect for the names of others involved in the robbery.
- probe
more formal; suggests careful, systematic investigation
- grill
more aggressive; suggests intense, forceful questioning
- interrogate
formal, often in legal or police contexts; implies authority
- volunteer
to offer information freely rather than being asked
文法句型
pump + person + for + noun (information/details/secrets)
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern pump [someone] for [something]. The 'something' is typically information, details, secrets, or news. This sense implies persistent or strategic questioning, not a casual chat.
常見錯誤
3. If music with a strong, continuous beat is pumping, it is being played very loud
If music with a strong, continuous beat is pumping, it is being played very loudly through speakers, or the person playing it is doing so.
The nightclub pumped dance music until four in the morning every Saturday.
Hip-hop music was pumping from the car speakers across the whole parking lot.
pump from [location] — music travelling from source
Justin turned up the volume and let the heavy beat pump through the living room.
The DJ pumped electronic music all night at the beach party last summer.
- whisper
very quiet sound; opposite of loud music
文法句型
pump + noun (music/beat)
pump + adverb (through/from/out of)
be pumping
用法筆記
Informal. Usually describes amplified electronic music, hip-hop, rock, or dance music with a pronounced bass beat. Not used for acoustic or quiet music.
常見錯誤
4. To move something rapidly up and down, in and out, or back and forth with a stea
To move something rapidly up and down, in and out, or back and forth with a steady, repeated motion, or to move in this way.
The runner pumped her arms as she sprinted toward the finish line.
pump + body part (arms/legs) — running motion
Eitan pumped the handle of the well until water started to flow from the tap.
Ada pumped the brakes when the car hit an icy patch on the road.
His fist pumped the air in celebration when the final whistle blew.
- move up and down
descriptive phrase; less forceful than 'pump'
- thrust
suggests a single strong push rather than repeated motion
- work
broader; 'work the handle' implies repeated operation without specifying the motion pattern
- hold still
to keep motionless rather than moving repeatedly
文法句型
pump + noun (body part/object) + adverb
pump + adverb
用法筆記
Often used with body parts (arms, legs, fists) to describe a vigorous, repeated movement. Also used with mechanical objects (handle, brake, pedal) to describe operating them with a pumping motion.