🔌 To connect power 🔌 A power connector 🛑 To block 🛑 A stopper ⚡ Engine igniter 📢 To promote 📢 A promotion 👊 To hit 🍂 Chewing tobacco 🐴 A worn-out horse

to plug

178 1.1

To put a cord into a socket to connect a device to power

verb
/plʌg/

: enchufar

Be sure that you have a power outlet nearby to plug in your computer.
plug the USB in
plug in devices
plug in the system

This is the charging case you plug in via USBC.

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Examples

He will plug the charger into the wall when he gets home.
Microphones of acceptable quality that can plug into your USB port are available for around $100 at many electronics stores.

Academic text (2010)
And then we just plug in three for X.
So you just go ahead, you plug this guy into here.
Here it is, and I want to plug it into that P there.
You plug this into the port.

Armageddon (1998)
So let's just try to plug this into here.
So you just plug your cable right into that.
I need you to help me plug in the HDMI cable.

Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2024)
So first of all, let's plug in an Ethernet cable.

Synonyms

to plug in

vsto plug

109 2.8

To connect an electrical device to a power socket by inserting its cord

is about inserting the connector specifically into an electrical socket

to plug into

vsto plug

44 3.0

To connect a device to a power socket to get electricity

is more about the physical insertion of the connector into the socket

Antonyms

to unplug

65 2.6

To take a plug out of a wall socket so an electric device stops getting power

Idioms

not worth a plug nickel

Archaic

1 9.6

Has no value and is useless to anyone

to plug and chug

Informal

1 8.2

To find an answer by putting numbers into an equation and doing the math

to plug and pray

Jargon

1 8.5

To connect a device and hope it works

Phrasal Verbs

to plug in

109 2.8

To connect an electrical device to a power socket by inserting its cord

to pull the plug

78 5.5

To stop something from going on by removing support like money

to plug into

44 3.0

To connect a device to a power socket to get electricity

to plug in

35 3.2

To join a group, activity, or system to take part and get information

to plug away

Informal

7 5.2

To work slowly and steadily on a difficult task

to plug out

1 4.9

Take a device's power cable out of a socket to stop electricity

Compounds

plug-in

Specialized

18 3.5

A vehicle or device you can connect to electricity to charge its battery

spark plug

Specialized

18 3.5

A small part in a car engine that makes a tiny electric flash to light the fuel and air

plug-in

Specialized

11 4.2

A small program you add to software to give it new features

plug and play

Specialized

3 4.2

Works as soon as you connect or install it without needing any setup

plug nickel

Archaic

1 9.9

A thing that is worth almost nothing

wall plug

1 2.4

An electrical socket in a wall where you connect a device to get power

phone plug

1 3.2

A small part you push into a wall socket to connect a telephone

plug-in

Specialized

1 4.3

A small circuit board you put into a computer slot to add new ports or features

plug-ugly

Offensive

1 9.9

A violent person who bullies weaker people

telephone plug

1 2.8

A small connector that fits into a socket to connect a phone to a phone line

sink plug

1 2.5

A small stopper that blocks a sink drain so water stays in the basin

bath plug

1 2.3

A stopper that fits into a bath drain to keep water in

basin plug

1 3.0

A small object that stops water leaving a sink or bathtub

hole plug

1 3.7

A small flat piece used to cover screw holes in furniture

plug fuse

Archaic

1 6.4

A small safety device that screws into a socket to stop too much electricity

plug hat

Archaic

1 9.9

A tall formal hat with a flat top and narrow brim worn by men

male plug

Specialized

1 3.9

A connector with two or three metal pins that you insert into a socket to get power

plug button

Specialized

5.0

A small cover that hides screw holes in furniture

sparking plug

Archaic

3.9

A small electric part that makes a spark to light the fuel in a car engine

How Secure

hardwired

Specialized

1 4.7

to plug

178 1.1

to connect

150 2.7

Surface Forms

plug infinitive

plugged past

plugged past participle

plugging present participle

plugs third person singular

Etymology

To plug in an appliance means to insert its plug into a power socket, the same idea as putting a stopper into a hole to join two parts. So to plug something in is to connect it to power.