plunger
noun
Simple meaning
A device that is used to remove blockages from the drain of a basin or tub, by suction.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
pluhnjerSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈplʌndʒɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A device that is used to remove blockages from the drain of a basin or tub, by suction.
The internal piece of a syringe that pushes out or pulls in any contents.
The part of a cafetière that is pushed down to remove grounds from coffee.
Certain equipment for brewing coffee.
A device similar to a piston but without a mechanism; a long solid cylinder used, instead of a piston or bucket, as a forcer in pumps.
One who plunges; a diver.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Primarily written
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A device that is used to remove blockages from the drain of a basin or tub, by suction.
Used this way, plunger is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.