pipeline

UK: /ˈpaɪplaɪn/ US: /ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/ ,(pīp′līn′)

Inflections of 'pipeline' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pipelines

v 3rd person singular

pipelining

v pres p

pipelined

v past

pipelined

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pipe•line /ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/  n. [countable]

1. Civil Engineering a linked series of pipes with pumps and valves for flow control, used to carry or send crude oil, water, etc., esp. over great distances.
2. a route or channel along which supplies pass:
   a pipeline for food supplies.
3. a channel of information, esp. one that is direct or only for certain people:
   She's got a direct pipeline to the president.

Idioms

4. Idioms,, Informal Terms in the pipeline, in the process of being provided or completed:
   Several projects are in the pipeline.

See -lin-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pipe•line  (pīp′līn′), n., v., -lined, -lin•ing. 
n. 

1. Civil Engineering a long tubular conduit or series of pipes, often underground, with pumps and valves for flow control, used to transport crude oil, natural gas, water, etc., esp. over great distances.
2. a route, channel, or process along which something passes or is provided at a steady rate;
   means, system, or flow of supply or supplies:
   Freighters and cargo planes are a pipeline for overseas goods.
3. a channel of information, esp. one that is direct, privileged, or confidential;
   inside source;
   reliable contact.
4. Informal Terms in the pipeline:
   • [Informal.] in the process of being developed, provided, or completed;
     in the works;
     under way.
   • Government (of funds) authorized but not spent.

v.t. 

5. Civil Engineering to convey by or as if by pipeline:
   to pipeline oil from the far north to ice-free ports; to pipeline graduates into the top jobs.

• pipe¹ + line¹ 1855–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pipeline / ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/ noun

1. a long pipe, esp underground, used to transport oil, natural gas, etc, over long distances
2. a medium of communication, esp a private one
3. in the pipeline ⇒ in the process of being completed, delivered, or produced

verb (transitive)

1. to convey by pipeline
2. to supply with a pipeline