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Dictionary


plug



Pronunciation: (plug), [key]
—n., v., plugged, plug•ging.

—n.
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. Elect.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. See spark plug (def. 1).
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. Geol.neck (def. 14).
11. Slang.a worn-out or inferior horse.
12. Informal.a shopworn or unsalable article.
13. a small piece of sod used esp. 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. Cf. hair transplant.
15. Slang.punch1 (def. 1).
16. Metalworking.
a. a mandrel on which tubes are formed.
b. a punch on which a cup is drawn.
c. a protrusion on a forging die for forming a recess in the work.
d. 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.See under plug and feathers.
19. Also called plug hat. a man's tall silk hat.
20. pull the plug on, Informal.
a. to discontinue or terminate: The government has threatened to pull the plug on further subsidies.
b. to disconnect life-sustaining equipment from (a moribund patient).

—v.t.
1. to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often fol. by up): 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.

—v.i.
1. to work with stubborn persistence (often fol. by along or away): 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.
4. plug in,
a. to connect to an electrical power source: Plug the TV set in over there.
b. Informal.to add or include; incorporate: They still have to plug in more research data.
5. plug into,
a. 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.
b. Informal.to feel an affinity for; like; understand: Some kids just don't plug into sports in school.
6. plug up, to become plugged: The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

pluckyplug and feathers
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