A student named Adeel Munawar from the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology defines a pump as a machine that converts mechanical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps are used to move fluids or slurries from one place to another by pumping liquid from a low pressure area to a high pressure area, increasing flow rate, or moving liquid from a lower elevation to a higher elevation. Pumps operate using either a reciprocating or rotary mechanism to provide mechanical power for moving the fluid.