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.

a core or interior segment taken from a larger matrix.

Electricity . 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.

spark plug ( def. 1 ) .

a fireplug or hydrant.

a cake of pressed tobacco.

a piece of tobacco cut off for chewing.

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.

Angling . an artificial lure made of wood, plastic, or metal, and fitted with one or more gang hooks, used chiefly in casting.

Geology . neck ( def. 14 ) .

Slang . a worn-out or inferior horse.

Informal . a shopworn or unsalable article.

a small piece of sod used esp. for seeding a lawn.

a patch of scalp with viable hair follicles that is used as a graft for a bald part of the head. Compare hair transplant .

Slang . punch 1 ( def. 1 ) .

Metalworking .

a mandrel on which tubes are formed.

a punch on which a cup is drawn.

a protrusion on a forging die for forming a recess in the work.

a false bottom on a die.

Also called dook. a small piece of wood inserted into masonry as a hold for a nail.

Masonry . See under plug and feathers .

Also called plug hat. a man's tall silk hat.

to stop or fill with or as if with a plug (often fol. by up )

to plug up a leak; plug a gap.

to insert or drive a plug into.

to secure with or as if with a plug.

to insert (something) as a plug.

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

to remove the center of (a coin) and replace it with a baser metal

a plugged nickel.

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.

Slang . to punch with the fist.

Slang . to shoot or strike with a bullet.

to work with stubborn persistence (often fol. by along or away )

You're doing a fine jobjust keep plugging. Some writers will plug away at the same novel for several years.

Informal . to publicize insistently

Whenever he gets the chance, he's plugging for his company.

Slang . to shoot or fire shots. ?

plug in,

to connect to an electrical power source

Plug the TV set in over there.

Informal . to add or include; incorporate

They still have to plug in more research data.

plug into,

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.

Informal . to feel an affinity for; like; understand

Some kids just don't plug into sports in school.

plug up, to become plugged

The drain in the sink plugs up every so often.

pull the plug on

Informal .

to discontinue or terminate

The government has threatened to pull the plug on further subsidies.

to disconnect life-sustaining equipment from (a moribund patient).

noun

mouth , opening

verb

uncork , unplug , unstopper , conceal , hide , withhold

noun

bung , connection , cork , filling , fitting , occlusion , river , spigot , stopple , tampon , wedge , advertisement , blurb * , good word , hype * , mention , push * , write-up , choke , fill , stop , stopper , ballyhoo , buildup , publicity , puffery , adapter , embolus , pledget , spile , tampion , tampoon

verb

block , bung , choke , clog , close , congest , cork , cover , drive in , fill , obstruct , occlude , pack , ram , seal , secure , stop , stopper , stopple , stuff , advertise , boost * , build up * , hype * , mention , promote , push * , write up , gun , pick off , ballyhoo , build up , cry , popularize , publicize , talk up , boost , enhance , puff , tout , dam , fitting , hack , persevere , push , wad