dump
duhmp
Dump (noun) means a site where waste or garbage is disposed of. Example: “The council moved the town's rubbish dump away from the houses.”
noun
1
A site where waste or garbage is disposed of.
"The council moved the town's rubbish dump away from the houses."
"We took the old mattress to the dump on Saturday morning."
"He hauled the broken furniture to the dump."
2
(informal) An unpleasant, dirty, or run-down place.
"Their first flat was a dump, with damp walls and a leaking roof."
"I wouldn't stay in that hotel again, because it's a real dump."
"The motel was a total dump, but it was cheap."
verb
1
To get rid of or discard something, often carelessly.
"Someone dumped a pile of bricks at the end of our road."
"Don't just dump your coat on the floor, hang it up."
"She dumped the old paperwork in the recycling bin."
2
(informal) To end a romantic relationship with someone.
"She dumped her boyfriend after only two months together."
"I can't believe he dumped her the night before her birthday."
"He was devastated after she dumped him over text."
3
(computing) To output or copy the full contents of memory, data, or a file, often for debugging.
"The program dumps its whole log to a text file when it fails."
"If you dump the database, you can inspect every record later."
"The engineer dumped the memory contents to find the crash cause."
4
(economics) To sell goods abroad at an unfairly low price to undercut competitors.
"Local farmers complained that foreign firms were dumping cheap grain in their markets."
"Companies that dump goods abroad at a loss can be fined."
"The country was accused of dumping cheap steel on foreign markets."
How to use dump
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo throw away or unload something (often carelessly), a place for waste, or (informally) to break up with someone or dislike a place.
When to use it
The "break up with" and "unpleasant place" senses are informal.
Common pairings
dump truck
garbage dump
data dump
dump someone
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Word forms
- Plural
- dumps
- Third person singular
- dumps
- Past tense
- dumped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The council moved the town's rubbish _____ away from the houses.
Etymology
From Middle English dumpen, likely from Old Norse dumpa, "to thump" — originally suggesting the sound of something being dropped heavily.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dump
See all rhymes for dump →Frequently asked questions
What does “dump” mean?
The word “dump” means a site where waste or garbage is disposed of. In plain terms, to throw away or unload something (often carelessly), a place for waste, or (informally) to break up with someone or dislike a place.
How do you pronounce “dump”?
“Dump” is pronounced duhmp (/dʌmp/ in IPA).
How do you use “dump” in a sentence?
Here is “dump” used in a sentence: “He hauled the broken furniture to the dump.”
What part of speech is “dump”?
Depending on how it is used, “dump” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dump” come from?
The word “dump” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dumpen, likely from Old Norse dumpa, "to thump" — originally suggesting the sound of something being dropped heavily.
Is “dump” a common word?
“Dump” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “dump” have?
“Dump” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a site where waste or garbage is disposed of.
What is the difference between a dump and a landfill?
A dump is a general word for any site where waste or garbage is disposed of, and it often suggests an open, loosely controlled site. A landfill is an engineered, regulated facility where waste is buried in layers and covered. In everyday speech, though, 'dump' is commonly used for landfills too.
Is it rude to call a place a dump?
Yes, calling a place 'a dump' is an informal insult meaning it is unpleasant, dirty, or run-down, as in 'this hotel is a dump'. It is fine among friends but too disparaging for polite or professional situations.
What is the difference between dump and throw away?
'Throw away' is the neutral, everyday phrase for putting something in the rubbish. 'Dump' often implies discarding something carelessly, in bulk, or in the wrong place, as in 'someone dumped old furniture by the road', and it can carry a tone of disapproval.
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