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to pump water

to pump water

7 1.6
Move water from one place to another using a machine
  • phrasal verb
  • /pʌmp ˈwɔːtər/
translation icon : bombear agua
  • Generators pump water from wells dug at three locations at Cabeza Prieta and two on the Goldwater Range.
  • used to pump water
  • pump water from wells

They are actually pumping water from the Dead Sea into this pool so I can still float and it's warm.

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Examples

  • In Red Hook, I witnessed local businesses and residents pumping water out of their basements.

    Blog text (10)
  • The reciprocating motion of the piston was used primarily to pump water from mines.

    Academic text (2007)
  • What they do at that mine is they pump water from the Colorado River deep underground.

  • In order to reduce the water levels, Thai military and volunteers are working around the clock to pump water from the cave.

  • Margaret went outside and pumped water into the bucket.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • They are actually pumping water from the Dead Sea into this pool so I can still float and it's warm.

  • It runs the water pumps that pump water out of the New York subway system every day.

  • But the immediate fix for the flooded system isn't simply pumping water out of the tunnels.

    Blog text (12)
  • Newcomen's engine, like Savery's, was created to pump water from mines.

    Academic text (2003)
  • After the heavy rain, the workers came to pump water from the flooded basement.

Synonyms

to pump
vsto pump water
178 2.0

To move liquid or gas using a machine that pushes it

is limited to moving one specific common liquid rather than any liquid or gas
to pump out
vsto pump water
23 3.2

To remove liquid with a pump or make many things quickly

focuses on moving a single common liquid, not broad removal or production

Antonyms

1.0

To make something end and not continue

How Mechanized

to pipe
  • Specialized
21 3.0
to pump water
7 1.6
scoop
16 2.1
to bail
14 7.0

Surface Forms

pump water infinitive
pumped water past participle
pumping water present participle
pumps water third person singular

Morphology

pump + water

The meaning 'to extract or move water using a pump' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'pump' (to use a pump to transfer liquid) with 'water' (the liquid), so the sense is literal and compositional. This verb + noun combination is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English argument structure, making it immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The verb pump water comes from the simple image of using a tool where you move a handle so the pump forces water up and out. So, it means 'to take or move water using a pump'.