1. To inflate something with a gas (or, less commonly, a liquid) using a pump. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "up." Often used in passive constructions. Would you please pump up the air mattress for when my sister comes to stay with us? They pumped the balloons up with water. Most chicken breasts sold at the supermarket are pumped up with water before being frozen.

2. To increase someone's or one's own excitement, confidence, or mental preparation. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "up." The coach pumped us all up just before we headed out onto the field. I was pretty nervous before the test, so I took a few minutes to pump myself up before I started.

3. To increase the volume of something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "up." Oh, I love this song—pump it up! Pump up the volume so everyone can hear the music!

4. To exaggerate or falsely inflate the numbers or information about something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "up." The company has been accused of manipulating cash in its accounts to pump up its profits when reporting to shareholders. I just think the government is pumping these figures up to justify the new legislation.

1. To extract something out of something or some place by using a pump or suction. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "out." The doctors had to pump the alcohol out of his stomach before his body went into toxic shock. The rains have been so heavy that we've been pumping out our basement for days.

2. To empty something or some place of its contents by using the force of a vacuum to suck the contents out. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "out." We'll have to pump the construction site out before we can lay down any concrete. They're pumping out the lab because a student accidentally created chlorine gas by mixing bleach with ammonia.

3. To flow or surge out of something freely, rapidly, and with force. Oil pumped out of the offshore well for days before a crew was able to fix the leak. Carbon dioxide pumps out of these plants all day, every day.

4. To create or generate copious amounts of something, especially continuously or at great length. Often used to imply the things are being created in a cheap, efficient manner, often reflected in their low quality. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pump" and "out." He made a career of pumping out cheesy romance novels. People complain about how bad the movies in this series are, but people go out and see them every time the studio pumps another one out. This factory alone pumps out roughly 85,000 smartphones a month.

1. To use a pump for a particular length of time. I kept pumping for nearly 20 minutes, but I just couldn't get any breast milk out. I pumped for a minute or two, but the tire wasn't inflating, so there must be a leak in it somewhere.

2. To press on or manipulate something in an up-and-down motion for a period of time. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "pump" and "for." I pumped the gas pedal for a few minutes while I tried getting the engine to start. I hate using a manual air pump to inflate these air mattresses—you have to stand there pumping it for half an hour each time!

3. To extract something using a pump for a period of time. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "pump" and "for." We've been pumping water for nearly the entire, and the basement is still flooded. We've pumped oil in this region for years.

4. To use a pump for the extraction of some substance. They wanted to start pumping for oil on our land, but we told them "no." We're developing a machine that will pump for water deep beneath the Earth's crust so as to irrigate formerly arid regions.

5. To attempt to extract information from someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "pump" and "for." The police brought the witness in and pumped him for details about the suspects. Let's pump him for information about the new project.

1. To force a liquid or gas into someone or something through the use of a pump. They've been pumping oxygen into him to keep him alive. You need to use the primer on the lawn mower to pump gasoline into the carburetor before the engine will start.

2. To provide large amounts of money to something, such as a company, project, or business venture. The billionaire has been pumping millions of dollars into space exploration research. We've pumped too much money in this business as it is—it's time to cut our losses and call it quits.

1. To cause a liquid or gas to pass through something with or as with the use of a pump The engine has been dormant for too long, so we'll need to pump fresh fuel through the lines. They had been pumping toxic fumes through the pipes underneath the apartment complex, so when one leaked, it meant the entire building had to be evacuated.

2. To funnel or supply money through something. The gangster had been pumping dirty money through businesses all over the country as part of a huge money-laundering operation. If she want to truly help the economy, the president could start by pumping money through the areas that have been most badly affected by the recession.

3. To usher a large number of people through some place or system as quickly as possible. The college is more interested in pumping students through its programs than in providing the highest level of education possible. Sales clerks are trained to pump as many customers through the store as they can.