noun
sump
suhmp
noun
1
A pit or low point where liquid collects and drains away.
"Rainwater collects in the sump at the base of the tunnel."
2
In a car engine, the reservoir at the bottom that holds the oil.
"The mechanic drained the oil from the sump before replacing the filter."
"A cracked sump can leak oil all over the driveway."
How to Use Sump
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA low collection point for liquid — in plumbing, mining, or a car's engine.
Common pairings
sump pump
oil sump
Word Forms
sumped past tense, sumps plural, sumps singular
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Rainwater collects in the _____ at the base of the tunnel.
Etymology
From Middle English sompe, related to Dutch and Low German words for a marshy pit — a doublet of the word swamp.