pumps
pumps — noun
- pumpssingular
- pumpsesplural
1. a machine designed to force water, fuel, or air to flow through pipes or into a
a machine designed to force water, fuel, or air to flow through pipes or into a container
The gardener used a hand pump to bring water from the well to flower beds.
noun + pump: hand pump / water pump
A small air pump beside the fish tank kept the water bubbling all afternoon.
compound noun: air pump
The station attendant checked the fuel pump before filling Mr. Yamamoto's car.
Every house in the village shares a single water pump near the market square.
The old bicycle pump was too rusty to inflate the car tyre.
- pump mechanism
emphasises the mechanical system rather than the whole device
文法句型
pump + for + noun
noun + pump
常見錯誤
2. a soft, lightweight women's shoe with a very flat sole and no fasteners, modelle
a soft, lightweight women's shoe with a very flat sole and no fasteners, modelled after the thin-soled footwear that ballet dancers wear
Amara wore black ballet pumps to her modern dance class every Tuesday afternoon.
ballet pumps — compound for this style
Mei-Lin, the costume designer, ordered twelve pairs of white ballet pumps for the school's spring recital.
After the final bow, Sofia slipped off her pumps and tucked them into her dance bag.
Bright red flat pumps were the most popular style in the shop window that spring.
- ballet flats
more common in contemporary fashion contexts; 'ballet pumps' is British English
文法句型
a pair of + pumps
用法筆記
This sense is nearly always used in the plural form 'pumps', even when referring to a single pair. Singular use is very rare in this meaning.
3. a style of women's dress shoe that covers the front of the foot and has a heel u
a style of women's dress shoe that covers the front of the foot and has a heel underneath, designed to be slipped on without any straps or laces
Emilia chose black leather pumps for her job interview at the law firm.
The bride wore silver pumps with a slim heel that matched her wedding dress.
Luisa complained that her new pumps hurt her feet after just a few blocks.
Chiara walked to the front of the conference room in a grey suit and low-heeled black pumps.
- court shoes
BrE term for the same style, more formal in tone
文法句型
a pair of + pumps
用法筆記
In American English this shoe style is typically called 'pumps' as well. In British English both the flat (sense 2) and heeled versions are 'pumps', so context determines which type is meant.
常見錯誤
4. a flat-soled canvas shoe with a rubber bottom, used by schoolchildren during phy
a flat-soled canvas shoe with a rubber bottom, used by schoolchildren during physical-education class or outdoor games
The children wore canvas pumps for their weekly gymnastics class at the community hall.
canvas pumps — heavy cloth upper typical of this style
Kavita packed spare pumps in her son's bag for the school sports day.
The PE teacher told the class to wear pumps and shorts for the warm-up outdoors.
These blue pumps with rubber soles are perfect for playing tag during break time at school.
文法句型
a pair of + pumps
用法筆記
In modern British English, 'plimsolls' or 'trainers' are more common terms for this type of shoe. 'Pumps' in this sense is older usage, still found in some school uniform lists.
5. an informal word for the heart, viewed as the organ that pumps blood around the
an informal word for the heart, viewed as the organ that pumps blood around the body
The paramedic said the old man's pump was still working well despite his age.
informal: someone's pump = their heart
After sprinting up three flights, Theo could feel his pump pounding hard in his chest.
Jake patted his chest after bench presses and joked, "The old pump's still going strong."
Climbing three flights left Mr. Chen clutching his chest. "My pump's giving out," he rasped.
文法句型
someone's + pump
用法筆記
This is a slang or casual medical euphemism. It is not appropriate in formal writing. Use 'heart' for neutral or serious contexts.
常見錯誤
pumps — verb
- pumpspresent simple I / you / we / they
- pumpses3rd person singular
- pumpsing-ing form
- pumpsedpast simple
1. to use a pump or similar force to make a liquid or gas flow through a pipe or in
to use a pump or similar force to make a liquid or gas flow through a pipe or into a container
Firefighters used a hose to pump water from the river onto the burning roof.
pump + object + from + source + onto/to + destination
Volunteers worked through the night to pump rainwater out of the flooded underground car park.
pump + object + out of + place
A small solar-powered device pumps clean drinking water into the storage tank every morning.
The mechanic pumped oil into the engine before starting it for the first time.
The human heart pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins around the body.
- force
more general; 'pump' specifically implies using a mechanical device
- absorb
the opposite direction of flow — pulling in rather than forcing out
文法句型
pump + noun + prepositional phrase
pump + noun + adverb
用法筆記
Common with direction prepositions: 'pump into', 'pump out of', 'pump through', 'pump from'. The verb can also be used without an object when the context is clear ('the engine pumps efficiently').
常見錯誤
2. to question someone repeatedly with the aim of finding out something they might
to question someone repeatedly with the aim of finding out something they might not want to share freely
The journalist kept pumping the spokesperson for details about the planned company merger.
pump + person + for + details/information
Arjun's friends spent the whole evening pumping him for news about the surprise party.
The tax officer pumped the business owner for financial records covering the past three years.
A reporter tried to pump the athlete for information but got no answers after the game.
文法句型
pump + person + for + information
用法筆記
Often has a slightly negative or sneaky connotation — you 'pump' someone when you want information they may not want to give freely. The pattern is always 'pump + person + for + thing asked about'.
常見錯誤
3. to describe music with a strong bass beat that blasts energetically from speaker
to describe music with a strong bass beat that blasts energetically from speakers at high volume
Loud hip-hop music pumped from the speakers at the street festival all evening long.
music + pumps + from + speaker/source
The gym was nearly empty, but dance music still pumped through the overhead speakers.
We could hear reggae pumping from the beach bar three blocks away on Saturday night.
Zola turned up the volume until the electronic beat pumped through the whole apartment.
文法句型
music + pumps + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Always used to describe music with a strong, steady beat that is being played loudly. Not used for quiet or classical music. The subject is typically a type of music or a sound system, not a person.
常見錯誤
4. to move something or to be moved up and down or back and forth with a repeated p
to move something or to be moved up and down or back and forth with a repeated pushing or pulling action
The children sat on the swing and pumped their legs to go higher into the air.
pump + body part — move repeatedly to gain momentum
Nora pumped the brake as the car began to slide on the icy winter road.
Haruto pumped his fist in the air with joy when his team scored the winning goal.
The old well handle pumped up and down as the farmer drew water for the cattle.
The runner's arms pumped by her sides as she sprinted towards the finish line.
- piston
verb — technical, describes the specific mechanical up-down motion of a piston
- still
the opposite of the motion — not moving at all
文法句型
pump + object + adverb
pump + adverb
用法筆記
When used transitively, the object is typically a body part (arm, leg, fist) or a mechanical control (pedal, handle). When used intransitively, the subject is the moving thing itself.