WordGarden.iopipeline
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈaɪplaɪn/
US
- /ˈpaɪˌplaɪn/
Meanings
Noun
a long pipe or pipe system that carries oil, gas, water, or other material over a distance
an organized flow of potential hires, deals, products, or other inputs moving toward later use or completion
a sequence of connected processing stages in which each step passes output to the next, especially in software or data work
Beyond the definition
Think of a water pipeline: it is a system that carries liquid from one place to another. But "pipeline" is not just about real pipes. It can also mean a set of stages that moves something toward a result, such as a sales pipeline, where a possible customer moves from first contact to a purchase, or a talent pipeline, where a company finds and prepares future workers. A strong pipeline means progress is moving steadily toward the goal.
The word first referred to physical pipes used to carry liquids and gases. Now it is often used in a wider way for any process with clear stages. You can talk about a pipeline of projects, ideas, or products that are being developed and are expected to come later. A healthy pipeline is important when you want a steady flow of future results.
A pipeline refers to a system or series of processes designed to deliver something—be it physical goods, information, or results—from one point to another. Originally, the word described literal pipelines used to transport liquids like oil and gas. Think of the vast network of pipes crisscrossing countries, carrying essential resources to where they are needed most.
However, "pipeline" has expanded far beyond its original industrial meaning. In business, a sales pipeline represents the stages a potential customer goes through, from initial contact to closing the deal. A robust pipeline indicates healthy growth and predictable future revenue. Similarly, in recruitment, a talent pipeline refers to the ongoing process of identifying, attracting, and developing skilled potential employees before a vacancy even opens.
The concept extends deep into other professional sectors as well. You might hear about a "drug pipeline," referring to the multi-year development and approval process for new medications, or an "artistic pipeline," describing the specific technical steps involved in creating animation or visual effects. Even in academia, a research pipeline outlines the various stages of a scientific investigation from hypothesis to publication.
A key characteristic of any pipeline is its sequential nature—each stage builds upon the previous one, leading towards a final outcome. If there's a bottleneck or blockage at any point, it can disrupt the entire process. Therefore, maintaining a healthy and efficient pipeline requires careful planning, constant monitoring, and frequent optimization. Whether you're talking about oil, sales leads, new hires, or scientific discoveries, a pipeline is all about creating a structured flow to ensure things move smoothly from start to finish.
Examples
- 1
Water supply
The new pipeline will carry clean water to three nearby towns.
- 2
Gas infrastructure
Workers found a small leak in the gas pipeline.
- 3
Drug development
Several new medicines are still in the pipeline and may be approved next year.
- Phrasein the pipeline
being planned or developed
- 4
Talent supply
The company has a strong pipeline of young engineers.
- Patternpipeline of + people/things
a steady supply for future use
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sales process
Her team is trying to move more customers through the sales pipeline.
- Domainsales pipeline
the steps from first contact with a customer to a sale
- 6
Data systems
A data pipeline collects information from the app and sends it to the reporting system.
- 7
Career path
The internship became a pipeline to full-time jobs at the company.
- Patternpipeline to + outcome
a path that regularly leads to it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- sales pipeline
- data pipeline
- talent pipeline
- in the pipeline
Word family
- pipelined
- pipelining
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- pipelinenoun
Forms
- pipelinespluralnoun