a mechanical device that moves fluid or gas by pressure or suction
"The old water pump in the barn stopped working after years of neglect, leaving the garden dry until we could get it repaired."
a low-cut shoe without fastenings
"She paired her summer dress with a sleek white pump to look elegant for the wedding."
A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas.
"She decided to wear her new pink pumps to the wedding instead of her flats."
A type of shoe, a trainer or sneaker.
In plain English: A pump is a machine used to force liquid or gas into a container by pushing it with pressure.
"The basketball player dribbled the ball with his left hand, pumping it steadily against the court."
Usage: Use "pumps" to refer specifically to women's shoes with a hard, elevated heel and no back strap. Do not use this term for athletic sneakers or casual footwear.
draw or pour with a pump
"We used a hand pump to drain all the water from the flooded basement."
flow intermittently
"The old well began to pump, releasing a sputtering stream of water that barely filled our cups before stopping again."
raise (gases or fluids) with a pump
"The mechanic had to use an air compressor to pump nitrogen into the tires before they were ready for the road test."
To use a pump to move (liquid or gas).
"I had to manually pump water from the well after the rain stopped flowing naturally."
In plain English: To pump means to push liquid or gas through a pipe or machine using force.
"I need to pump some water into the swimming pool before summer starts."
Usage: Use "pump" when describing the mechanical action of forcing liquid or gas through a pipe using a device, such as pumping water from a well. Do not use it for general exertion like running or lifting weights, which should instead be described with verbs like jog or lift.
The word "pump" likely originated as an onomatopoeic imitation of the sound a water conduit makes. It entered English from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German before spreading to other languages like Spanish.