pump

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   question persistently

   The police officer pumped the witnesses for information.

2. 2
   verb

   deliver forth

   pump bullets into the dummy

3. 3
   verb

   to raise gases or fluids with a pump

   I pumped the gas while they paid and bought us sodas.

4. 4
   verb

   move up and down

   The athlete pumps weights in the gym

5. 5
   noun

   A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas.

   This pump can deliver 100 gallons of water per minute.

6. 6
   noun

   An instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping

   It takes thirty pumps to get 10 litres; he did 50 pumps of the weights.

7. 7
   noun

   A device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, particularly fuel; a gas pump.

   This pump is out of order, but you can gas up at the next one.

8. 8
   noun

   A swelling of the muscles caused by increased blood flow following high intensity weightlifting.

   Want a skin-stretching pump? Up the volume by using high-rep sets. A great pump is better than coming.

Etymology

The etymology of the term is unclear and disputed. One possibility is that it comes from pomp (“ornamentation”). Another is that it refers to the sound made by the foot moving inside the shoe when dancing. The Oxford English Dictionary claims that it appeared in the 16th century, and lists its origin as "obscure". It has also been linked to the Dutch pampoesje, possibly borrowed from Javanese pampus, ultimately from Persian پاپوش (pâpuš), borrowed from Arabic بَابُوش (bābūš).