# pipeline

/ˈpaɪˌpɫaɪn/ (US) · /pˈaɪplaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pipeline
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. physical pipe system

noun · CEFR B2

a very long series of pipes used to carry water, oil, or gas over long distances.

For teachers: a conduit of connected pipes used to transport fluids, such as petroleum, natural gas, or water, across geographic regions.

- The company is building a new pipeline to carry natural gas to the coast.
- Environmental groups raised concerns about the proposed pipeline, fearing that a leak could contaminate the local groundwater supply.

### 2. business or project process

noun · CEFR B2

a process where things are being planned or developed for the future.

For teachers: a metaphorical system or sequence through which products, projects, or candidates are processed or developed.

- We have several new video games in the pipeline for next year.
- The pharmaceutical firm has three promising new drugs in its research pipeline, though none will reach the market for several years.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'in the pipeline' to mean 'under development'.

### 3. computing data flow

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way for a computer to process data in a series of steps, one after another.

For teachers: a sequence of data processing stages where the output of one element is the input of the next.

- The graphics pipeline handles how the computer draws 3D objects on your screen.
- Modern processors use instruction pipelining to execute multiple commands simultaneously, significantly increasing the overall throughput of the system.

### 4. to transport via pipes

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to move a liquid or gas through a system of pipes.

For teachers: to convey a substance through a network of pipes. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- Fresh water is pipelined from the mountains to the dry plains below.
- The refinery is designed to pipeline crude oil directly from the offshore rigs to the processing facility.

## Examples

- The new software pipeline speeds up our data processing.
- The development team automated their deployment pipeline to ensure that every code change is tested before going live.
- By implementing a graphics pipeline, the hardware can process multiple stages of rendering simultaneously, significantly increasing the frame rate for complex three-dimensional environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.