plʌɡ n. & v. --n. 1 a
piece of
solid material fitting tightly
into a
hole, used to
fill a
gap or
cavity or
act as a wedge or
stopper. 2 a a
device of
metal pins in an insulated
casing fitting into holes in a
socket for making an
electrical connection,
esp.
between an
appliance and the mains. b colloq. an
electric socket. 3 = sparking-plug (see SPARK(1)). 4 colloq. a piece of (often free)
publicity for an
idea,
product, etc. 5 a mass of solidified
lava filling the
neck of a
volcano. 6 a
cake or stick of
tobacco; a piece of
this for chewing. 7 = fire-plug. --v. (plugged, plugging) 1 tr. (often foll. by up)
stop (a hole etc.)
with a plug. 2 tr. sl.
shoot or
hit (a
person etc.). 3 tr. colloq.
seek to
popularize (an idea, product, etc.) by
constant recommendation. 4 intr. colloq. (often foll. by at)
work steadily
away (at). øplug in
connect electrically by inserting a plug in a socket. plug-in adj.
able to be
connected by
means of a plug. plug-ugly US sl. n. (pl. -ies) a
thug or
ruffian. --adj. villainous-looking. øøplugger n. [MDu. & MLG plugge, of unkn. orig.]
