sump

noun

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\ ˈsəmp \

Definition of sump

1 : a pit or reservoir serving as a drain or receptacle for liquids: such as

a : cesspool

b : a pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (such as the oil-circulating system of an internal combustion engine)

c chiefly British : oil pan

2 British : crankcase

3 [German Sumpf, literally, marsh, from Middle High German — more at swamp]

a : the lowest part of a mine shaft into which water drains

b : an excavation ahead of regular work in driving a mine tunnel or sinking a mine shaft

4 : something resembling a sump : sink sense 2

Examples of sump in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is easy and efficient protection for your property, as it is suggested to be used near sump pumps, toilets, water heaters, laundry machines, dishwashers, sinks, fish tanks, and more. — Chris Hachey, BGR, 7 June 2021 The auto industry’s epochs don’t shift like gears so much as blend like sump oil. — Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 17 May 2021 The pumps are connected and both placed in the sump pit. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2021 The water seeps from the lake through cracks in the rock and is routed to drains and a sump, then pumped to the river below the dam. — AZCentral.com, 27 May 2021 Base price: $222,620 Price, as tested: $278,221 Powertrain: twin-turbocharged, 3.9-liter DOHC V8 with dry-sump lubrication; eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual paddle shifters; rear drive with torque vectoring. — Dan Neil, WSJ, 30 Apr. 2021 This is the result of a boost in the child tax credit from $2,000 a year (paid as a lump sump previously at tax time) to $3,600 a year for the younger children and $3,000 for others. — Rich Exner, cleveland, 21 Apr. 2021 Battery-backup sump pumps range in price from about $150 to over $600, depending on the capacity of the pump. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2021 Others show holes in netting around sump ponds meant to keep out wildlife and birds attracted by the shiny, sticky pools. — Janet Wilson, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sump.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.