What does dump mean?
Dump is a versatile English word with both literal and figurative uses. As a verb, it commonly means to throw away, empty, or dispose of something in bulk, especially at a rubbish or garbage dump. It can also mean to abandon a person, place, or responsibility abruptly, usually in an informal or disapproving register, and in computing it refers to exporting or recording a large amount of data. As a noun, a dump is a place or heap of discarded material; informally, it can describe a disorderly collection of things or a shabby, poorly managed location. The word can also refer informally to vomiting or the act of vomiting. Across these senses, dump often suggests the concentrated disposal or transfer of a mass of material. Its history is not completely certain, although it developed through Middle English forms connected with rough or clumsy movement and has close parallels in several European languages.
A heap or place where unwanted material is left; an informal collection of discarded objects; or, in computing, a transfer or record of data.
"The old warehouse had become a dump of broken furniture and forgotten equipment."
The sense for a disordered collection or poorly managed place is informal and often disapproving. The technical computing sense is a data dump.
To throw away, empty, or dispose of material in bulk; to abandon or leave abruptly; or, in computing, to transfer or record data.
"They dumped the old boxes beside the road and called it a clean-up."
The sense of abandoning a person or responsibility is informal and usually negative. In computing, dump often implies writing or transferring a large quantity of data.
The plural dumps is used for separate heaps, places, collections, or data transfers.
"The cleanup crew removed several illegal dumps from the vacant lots."
From heaps of rubbish to screens of data, dump carries the basic idea of dealing with a mass of something in one go.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does dump come from?
The precise origin of dump is uncertain. It developed through Middle English forms such as dumpen, probably related to Old English dumpian, meaning to move clumsily or roughly, and comparable forms occur in Dutch and Danish. Its proposed deeper connection with words such as damp and dumb rests on a shared Indo-European root, although the relationship is not entirely straightforward.
Related word forms
How dump is actually used
The verb is neutral when describing the disposal of waste but often informal or disapproving when it means to abandon a person, place, or responsibility. In computing, dump can sound technical and may imply transferring or writing a large quantity of data. Regional usage favors terms such as rubbish dump in British English and garbage dump in American English.
Easily confused with dump
Dump is pronounced like damp but means to discard or dispose of material, whereas damp describes something slightly wet.