dumps

UK: /dʌmps/ US: /dʌmps/ ,(dumps)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dumps /dʌmps/   n. [plural] Idioms

1. (down) in the dumps, in a depressed or sad state of mind:
   She's really (down) in the dumps about leaving home.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dumps  (dumps), n. 

1. a depressed state of mind (usually prec. by in the):
   to be in the dumps over money problems.

• compare German dumpf dull, Middle Dutch domp haze 1515–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dumps / dʌmps/ noun:plural

1. a state of melancholy or depression (esp in the phrase down in the dumps)

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from Middle Dutch domp haze, mist; see damp

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dump /dʌmp/   v. 

1. to drop or let fall in;
   fling down or drop heavily or suddenly:
   [~ + object] Dump the topsoil here.
2. to throw away or discard (garbage, etc.): [~ + object]
   The company dumped the toxic wastes into this canal.
   [no object]
   a sewage pipe that dumps into the ocean.
3. to unload or empty out (a container), such as by tilting:
   [~ + object] He dumped the garbage can and went back inside.
4. to empty out, such as from a container:
   [~ + object] He dumped the papers from the wastebasket.
5. to dismiss from a job:
   [~ + object] The company dumped him after all those years.
6. to rid oneself of (someone or something) suddenly and rudely:
   [~ + object] Don't dump your troubles on me! He dumped her after 20 years of marriage.
7. Business to sell (goods) into foreign markets below cost in an effort to destroy foreign competition: [~ + object]
   accused of dumping cars in the American market.
   [no object]
   Many politicians accuse foreign countries of dumping as a reason for the trade imbalances.
8. Computing [~ + object] to send out or copy (computer data), esp. to find out the reason for a failure.
9. Idioms dump on, [~ + on + object] to criticize harshly;
   abuse;
   insult:
   They were always dumping on him.

n. [countable]

10. a place where garbage, etc., is deposited.
11. Military a collection of ammunition, etc., deposited at some point for distribution.
12. Informal Terms a place, area, house, or town that is run-down, dirty, or a mess:
    He lived in a dump, with no kitchen or bathroom.
13. Computing a copy of dumped computer data.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dump  (dump), v.t. 

1. to drop or let fall in a mass;
   fling down or drop heavily or suddenly:
   Dump the topsoil here.
2. Business to empty out, as from a container, by tilting or overturning.
3. to unload or empty out (a container), as by tilting or overturning.
4. to be dismissed, fired, or released from a contract:
   The first baseman was dumped from the team after hitting.210 for the first half of the season.
5. to transfer or rid oneself of suddenly and irresponsibly:
   Don't dump your troubles on me!
6. Sport [Boxing Slang.]
   • to knock down:
     The champion was dumped twice but won the fight.
   • to lose (a match) intentionally:
     a bribe to dump a fight.
7. Business [Com.]
   • to put (goods or securities) on the market in large quantities and at a low price without regard to the effect on market conditions.
   • to sell (goods) into foreign markets below cost in order to promote exports or damage foreign competition.
8. Computing to print, display, or record on an output medium (the contents of a computer's internal storage or the contents of a file), often at the time a program fails.
9. Slang Terms to kill;
   murder:
   threats to dump him if he didn't pay up.

v.i. 

10. to fall or drop down suddenly.
11. to throw away or discard garbage, refuse, etc.
12. Business [Com.]
    • to offer goods for sale in large quantities at a low price.
    • to dump below-cost goods into foreign markets.
13. to release contents:
    a sewage pipe that dumps in the ocean.
14. Slang Terms to complain, criticize, gossip, or tell another person one's problems:
    He calls me up just to dump.
15. Slang Terms (vulgar). to defecate.
16. Idioms dump on (someone), [Informal.]
    • to attack with verbal abuse;
      criticize harshly:
      Reporters never tired of dumping on certain public figures.
    • to unload one's problems onto (another person):
      You never phone me without dumping on me.

n. 

17. an accumulation of discarded garbage, refuse, etc.
18. Also called dumpsite, dumping-ground. a place where garbage, refuse, etc., is deposited.
19. [Mil.]
    • Military a collection of ammunition, stores, etc., deposited at some point, as near a battlefront, for distribution.
    • Military the ammunition, stores, etc., so deposited.
20. the act of dumping.
21. Mining
    • a runway or embankment equipped with tripping devices, from which low-grade ore, rock, etc., are dumped.
    • the pile of ore so dumped.
22. Informal Terms a place, house, or town that is dilapidated, dirty, or disreputable.
23. Business (in merchandising) a bin or specially made carton in which items are displayed for sale:
    Fifty copies of the best-selling paperback novel were in a dump near the checkout counter.
24. Computing a copy of the contents of a computer's internal storage or of the contents of a file at a given instant, that is printed, displayed, or stored on an output medium.

• another source, or independent expressive formation
• Old Norse dumpa strike, bump; modern senses as transitive verb, verbal and noun, nominal (not known before 19th cent.) perh.
• Middle English (in sense "to fall suddenly'') 1250–1300

dump′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dump / dʌmp/ verb

1. to drop, fall, or let fall heavily or in a mass
2. (transitive) to empty (objects or material) out of a container
3. to unload, empty, or make empty (a container), as by tilting or overturning
4. (transitive) to dispose of
5. (transitive) to dispose of (waste, esp radioactive nuclear waste) in the sea or on land
6. to market (goods) in bulk and at low prices
7. (transitive) to store (supplies, arms, etc) temporarily
8. (intransitive) to defecate
9. (transitive) (of a wave) to hurl (a swimmer or surfer) down
10. (transitive) to compact (bales of wool) by hydraulic pressure
11. (transitive) to record (the contents of part or all of the memory) on a storage device, such as magnetic tape, at a series of points during a computer run

noun

1. a place or area where waste materials are dumped
2. a pile or accumulation of rubbish
3. the act of dumping
4. a dirty or unkempt place
5. a place where weapons, supplies, etc, are stored
6. an act of defecation

Etymology: 14th Century: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dumpa to fall suddenly, Middle Low German dumpeln to duck

ˈdumper noun