plug
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.the plastic part at the end of a wire that you push into a wall to get electricity.
n.a pronged device attached to an electrical cord that fits into a socket to establish a circuit.
Simple“The lamp won't turn on because the plug is loose in the wall.”
In context“Most modern appliances are fitted with a moulded plug that cannot be easily opened for repair without specialized tools.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.an object used to block a hole, like the one in a bathtub or sink.
n.a piece of material used to stop or fill a hole or cavity.
Simple“Pull the plug out of the bath so the water can drain away.”
In context“The plumber inserted a rubber plug into the pipe to prevent any further leakage while he replaced the main valve.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a mention of a product or book to help sell it, often during an interview.
n.a piece of publicity or a favourable mention of a product, service, or event.
Simple“The actor gave a quick plug for his new movie at the end of the show.”
In context“The author managed to weave a subtle plug for her upcoming memoir into the final minutes of the radio interview.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a person who sells illegal drugs.
n.a supplier of illicit substances.
Simple“He was looking for a new plug after his old one moved away.”
In context“The investigation focused on identifying the primary plug responsible for distributing the narcotics throughout the suburban district.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to fill a hole so that nothing can get through.
v.to stop or close a hole or gap by inserting a plug.
Simple“You can use some mud to plug the small holes in the wall.”
In context“The engineers worked through the night to plug the breach in the dam before the rising river levels caused a total collapse.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to talk about something in public to help it become popular or sell.
v.to promote a product or service, often through repeated mentions in media.
Simple“She went on the talk show to plug her latest book.”
In context“The celebrity was criticized for using his social media platform to plug expensive supplements without disclosing his financial interest in the company.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to keep working hard at something that is difficult or boring.
v.to persist or continue steadily with a task; usually used with 'away'.
Simple“If you keep plugging away at your piano practice, you will improve.”
In context“Despite the lack of immediate results, the research team continued to plug away at the data until they finally identified a pattern.”
UsageUsually takes the particle 'away' followed by 'at'.
“Often there is the familiar sight of a tangle of cords and plugs in an extension cable by the bed.”
“It basically pulls the plug on everything, and that creates some downstream effects for sensitive systems such as the reaction wheels.”
From Dutch plug, from Middle Dutch plugge (“peg, plug”), from Old Dutch pluggi, from Proto-West Germanic plugi. Further origin unknown. Possibly from Proto-Germanic *plugjaz, but the word seems originally restricted to northern continental West Germanic. Perhaps ultimately from the same source as Dutch plag (“cut-out sod”), itself considered to be from a substrate. Compare German Low German Plüg, Norwegian plug (“peg, wedge”, probably borrowed from Middle Low German), German Pflock (“peg”, restricted to Central German and phonetically divergent). Possibly akin to Lithuanian plúkti (“to strike, hew”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.