cumber

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈkʌmbə/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(kum′bər)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
cum•ber  (kum′bər),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. to hinder;
    hamper.
  2. to overload;
    burden.
  3. to inconvenience;
    trouble.

n. 
  1. a hindrance.
  2. something that cumbers.
  3. [Archaic.]embarrassment;
    trouble.
  • 1250–1300; Middle English cumbre (noun, nominal), cumbren (verb, verbal), aphetic variant of acumbren to harass, defeat; see encumber
cum′ber•er, n. 
cum′ber•ment, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
cumber / ˈkʌmbə/ (transitive)
  1. to obstruct or hinder
  2. to inconvenience
Etymology: 13th Century: probably from Old French combrer to impede, prevent, from combre barrier; see encumber
'cumber' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Indian cucumber root - bur cucumber - compound Q - cucumber beetle - cucumber mosaic - cucumber root - cucumber tree - cumbersome - cumbrous - large-leaved cucumber tree - sea cucumber - squirting cucumber

Forum discussions with the word(s) "cumber" in the title:


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