Something that is currently being processed, developed, or prepared for future completion or release. It refers to projects or items that are in progress but not yet finished.
This industrial metaphor perfectly captures the concept of something being in transit or in process - it's no longer at the starting point but hasn't reached the endpoint either. The pipeline image suggests both movement and containment, implying steady progress within a structured system.
The pipeline metaphor works so well because it suggests both inevitability and timing - what's in the pipeline will eventually arrive, but it takes time to flow through the system. This makes it perfect for describing everything from product development to legislative processes.
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