Dump

Part of Speech

Noun, Verb

Pronunciation

/dʌmp/ (English - US, UK)

Definitions

• (Noun) A site for disposing of waste or unwanted material.
• (Noun) A place where things of low value are stored.
• (Noun, Informal) A messy or unpleasant place.
• (Verb) To dispose of something, especially waste, in a careless or illegal manner.
• (Verb) To end a relationship abruptly.
• (Verb, Computing) To output data from memory to a file or screen.

Usage Examples

• "The city built a new landfill to replace the old dump."
• "His apartment was such a dump that no one wanted to visit."
• "Factories were fined for dumping toxic waste into the river."
• "She dumped her old boyfriend last week."
• "The program dumped the error logs for debugging purposes."

Etymology

Derived from Scandinavian roots, related to the Danish word "dumpe," meaning "to fall suddenly" or "to drop." First recorded use in English dates back to the 14th century.

Synonyms

• Landfill
• Disposal site
• Junkyard
• Discard
• Abandon

Antonyms

• Recycle
• Retain
• Preserve

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• US: /dʌmp/
• UK: /dʌmp/
• Australian English: /dʌmp/

Historical Usage

Originally used to refer to a site where coal and other materials were dropped, the term expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries to include garbage disposal and informal references to messy places.

Cultural Nuances

In some cultures, "dump" refers to both physical and emotional states, often describing neglected places or abrupt separations. In computing, a "data dump" is a technical term for outputting information from memory.

More Information

Waste disposal and management have evolved over centuries, with modern regulations reducing illegal dumping. The environmental impact of dumpsites has led to the promotion of recycling and sustainable waste management.