plug

—pluggable, adj. —pluggingly, adv. —plugless, adj. —pluglike, adj.

/plug/, n., v., plugged, plugging.

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.

21. to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often fol. by up): to plug up a leak; plug a gap.

22. to insert or drive a plug into.

23. to secure with or as if with a plug.

24. to insert (something) as a plug.

25. to remove a core or a small plug-shaped piece from.

26. to remove the center of (a coin) and replace it with a baser metal: a plugged nickel.

27. 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.

28. Slang. to punch with the fist.

29. Slang. to shoot or strike with a bullet.

v.i.

30. 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.

31. Informal. to publicize insistently: Whenever he gets the chance, he's plugging for his company.

32. Slang. to shoot or fire shots.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. plug up, to become plugged: The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

[1620-30; < D; c. G Pflock]

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