bumper
BUHM-puh
Bumper (noun) means the part at the front or back of a vehicle designed to absorb the impact of a collision. Example: “The bumper was scratched in the parking lot.”
noun
1
The part at the front or back of a vehicle designed to absorb the impact of a collision.
"The bumper was scratched in the parking lot."
"The bumper fell off the old van when it hit the kerb."
"He fitted a new rear bumper after someone reversed into his car."
2
A drinking glass or cup filled right to the brim, especially for a toast.
"He raised a bumper of ale to toast the bride and groom."
adj
1
Unusually large or abundant, especially of a harvest or crop.
"Farmers reported a bumper harvest this year."
"It was a bumper year for apples, and we gave bags away to neighbours."
"The shop expects bumper sales in the weeks before Christmas."
How to use bumper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA vehicle's impact-absorbing panel — or, as an adjective, unusually abundant.
Common pairings
bumper crop
front bumper
bumper sticker
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Word forms
- Plural
- bumpers
- Third person singular
- bumpers
- Past tense
- bumpered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ was scratched in the parking lot.
Etymology
From bump + the agent suffix -er, describing something that bumps or absorbs an impact.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bumper
See all rhymes for bumper →Frequently asked questions
What does “bumper” mean?
The word “bumper” means the part at the front or back of a vehicle designed to absorb the impact of a collision. In plain terms, a vehicle's impact-absorbing panel — or, as an adjective, unusually abundant.
How do you pronounce “bumper”?
“Bumper” is pronounced BUHM-puh (/ˈbʌmpəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bumper” in a sentence?
Here is “bumper” used in a sentence: “The bumper was scratched in the parking lot.”
What part of speech is “bumper”?
Depending on how it is used, “bumper” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “bumper” a common word?
“Bumper” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bumper” have?
“Bumper” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the part at the front or back of a vehicle designed to absorb the impact of a collision.
What is the difference between a "bumper" harvest and a "bumper" on a car?
As an adjective, "bumper" describes something unusually large or abundant, as in a "bumper harvest" or "bumper crop." As a noun, a bumper is the part at the front or back of a vehicle designed to absorb impact in a collision; the two uses are unrelated in meaning despite sharing the word.
Why is a full drinking glass called a "bumper"?
A "bumper" in this sense is a glass or cup filled right to the brim, traditionally used for a toast, emphasizing generosity and celebration. This meaning is older and less common today but still appears in toasting traditions and literary or historical writing.
Is "bumper" as an adjective formal or informal?
"Bumper" as an adjective meaning large or abundant is informal and upbeat in tone, often used in phrases like "bumper edition" or "bumper crowd." It works well in casual or journalistic writing but would be unusual in strictly formal or technical documents.
