Etymology From Early Modern English bump (“a shock, blow from a collision”), probably of North Germanic origin; compare Danish bump (“a thump”), Danish bumpe (“to thump”), Old Danish bumpe (“to strike with a clenched fist”), all probably of imitative origin. Apparently related to Middle English bumben, bummen (“to make a hollow noise”), Dutch bommen (“to hum, buzz”), German Low German bumsen (“to bump, push”), German bummen (“to hum, buzz”), Icelandic bumba (“drum”). More at bum, bumble. Compare also bomb.
He heard a loud bump and saw the front part of his car was broken and the driver of the other car was running to apologise.
3
A protuberance on a level surface.
4
A swelling on the skin caused by illness or injury.
It had upon its brow / A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone.c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
5
Obsolete One of the protuberances on the cranium which, in phrenology, are associated with distinct faculties or affections of the mind.
the bump of veneration; the bump of acquisitiveness
Our task is to elevate the character of the people, raising up, in fact, their bump of self-esteem and suppressing the bumps of servility and fury.c.1845 Thomas MacNevin, cited in Charles Gavan Duffy (1896) Young Ireland: A Fragment of Irish History, 1840-45; final revision (London: T.F. Unwin) Vol.II p.100
1 more example
Another, with the bump of order unnaturally developed, had his folios and quartos all reduced, in binding, to one size, so that they might look even on his bookshelves.1902, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, 2nd edition, page 102:
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Rowing, Sports The point, in a race in which boats are spaced apart at the start, at which a boat begins to overtake the boat ahead.
8
The swollen abdomen of a pregnant woman.
9
Internet A post in an Internet forum thread made in order to raise the thread's profile by returning it to the top of the list of active threads.
10
A temporary increase in a quantity, as shown in a graph.
US presidential nominees get a post-convention bump in survey ratings.
11
Slang A dose of a drug such as ketamine or cocaine, when snorted recreationally.
“They're getting their drugs mixed up,” she said. “If someone did a line of coke, it would be a very different size than if someone did a bump of ketamine, right? So if they're thinking it's cocaine and they do a line, they could go into a k-hole and be completely unable to move for hours. Maybe not hours, but for a while.”2019 August 9, Joshua Azizi, “Shambhala Music Festival makes harm reduction a priority”, in The Georgia Straight:
12
A disco dance in which partners rhythmically bump their hips together.
Preceded by a definite article
We sing […] "God Save the Queen" done in mime and finally "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley" to a Hawaiian rock with Phoebe doing the bump.1979, Robert English, Toxic Kisses, Eden Paperbacks, page 32:
13
In skipping, a single jump over two consecutive turns of the rope.
US, Slang Music, especially played over speakers at loud volume with strong bass frequency response.
Call me the juice and you know I'm a stunt; ride in the car with some bump in the trunk.2005, “Stay Fly”, in Jordan Houston, Darnell Carlton, Paul Beauregard, Premro Smith, Marlon Goodwin, David Brown, Willie Hutchinson (lyrics), Most Known Unknown, performed by Three 6 Mafia (featuring Young Buck, 8 Ball, and MJG), Sony BMG:
18
Broadcasting, MediaUS A short, self-promotional spot on a radio or television station.
19
A reassignment of jobs within an organization (for example, when an existing employee leaves) on the basis of seniority.
Industrial relations
For example, chain bumping, in which a bump by one employee initiates a series of consecutive bumps down a progression line before a layoff results, produces the greatest average number of reassignments per redundant employee.1985, Peter B. Doeringer, Michael J. Piore, Internal Labor Markets and Manpower Analysis, page 55:
20
Card games, Games In the game of khanhoo, the act of claiming a newly discarded card when it is not one's turn, permitted when one can use the card to form a meld other than a sequence.
"I'll try my best, but we still have a few bumps to work out," Ryder muttered.2015, Dianna Love, Slye Team Black Ops 3-book box set:
22
Business, Mining A sudden movement of underground strata, preceded by a characteristic sound.
23
Espionage, Government, Law enforcement, Military, Politics, WarUS An undercover contact or staged encounter used to elicit information, prompt a reaction, or arrange a follow-up meeting with a suspect or person of interest.
Etymology From Early Modern English bump (“a shock, blow from a collision”), probably of North Germanic origin; compare Danish bump (“a thump”), Danish bumpe (“to thump”), Old Danish bumpe (“to strike with a clenched fist”), all probably of imitative origin. Apparently related to Middle English bumben, bummen (“to make a hollow noise”), Dutch bommen (“to hum, buzz”), German Low German bumsen (“to bump, push”), German bummen (“to hum, buzz”), Icelandic bumba (“drum”). More at bum, bumble. Compare also bomb.
Their car got bumped while they were turning at the junction.
2
To move up or down by a step; displace.
I bumped the font size up to make my document easier to read.
3
Internet To post in an Internet forum thread in order to raise the thread's profile by returning it to the top of the list of active threads.
As in [the online forum] carersvoicesnz, certain contributors were more visible, taking the initiative to "bump" the thread to bring it back into view if it went quiet.2015, Barbara Horrell, Christine Stephens, Mary Breheny, “Online Research with Informal Caregivers: Opportunities and Challenges”, in Qualitative Research in Psychology, volume 12, number 3, →DOI, page 264:
4
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciencesPhysical, Of a superheated liquid To suddenly boil, causing movement of the vessel and loss of liquid.
Heat until the liquid bumps, then reduce the heat and continue the boiling for 1½ hours.1916, Albert Prescott Mathews, Physiological chemistry:
5
To move (a booked passenger) to a later flight because of earlier delays or cancellations.
Easyjet said the compensation package for passengers bumped off flights was 'probably the most flawed piece of European legislation in recent years' […]2005, Lois Jones, EasyJet: the story of Britain's biggest low-cost airline, page 192:
6
To move the time of (a scheduled event).
A colleague emails with news that her 4:30 meeting got bumped to 3:30.2010, Nancy Conner, Matthew MacDonald, Office 2010: The Missing Manual, page 332:
7
To pick (a lock) with a repeated striking motion that dislodges the pins.
Archaic To make a loud, heavy, or hollow noise; to boom.
as a bittern bumps within a reed1700, [John] Dryden, “The Wife of Bathe’s Tale. As it was Written by Geffrey Chaucer”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
You know about the night the kid bumped Brody?1944, William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman, The Big Sleep (screenplay)
12
To displace (another employee in an organization) on the basis of seniority.
Industrial relations
Employees with 2 years or more, and less than 8 years plant seniority, may bump a probationary employee.1969, Major Collective Bargaining Agreements, volume 9:
After his ancestors had been browbeaten by the Puritans, and his ancestors had been driven out by the early pioneers [...], if he learned that a magnificent bronze statue is to be erected to his ancestors; wouldn't it bump an Indian?1911 September 25, “Wouldn't It Make You Mad”, in San Francisco Examiner:
14
Card games, Games In the game of khanhoo, to claim a newly discarded card when it is not one's turn, permitted when one can use the card to form a meld other than a sequence.
15
Slang To play music through a speaker, often loudly and in public.
Etymology From Early Modern English bump (“a shock, blow from a collision”), probably of North Germanic origin; compare Danish bump (“a thump”), Danish bumpe (“to thump”), Old Danish bumpe (“to strike with a clenched fist”), all probably of imitative origin. Apparently related to Middle English bumben, bummen (“to make a hollow noise”), Dutch bommen (“to hum, buzz”), German Low German bumsen (“to bump, push”), German bummen (“to hum, buzz”), Icelandic bumba (“drum”). More at bum, bumble. Compare also bomb.
1
Internet Posted in an Internet forum thread in order to raise the thread's profile by returning it to the top of the list of active threads.
bump
noun
Etymology From Early Modern English; onomatopoeic.
1
The breeding call made by the bittern; a boom.
bump
verb
Etymology From Early Modern English; onomatopoeic.
1
Of a bittern, to make its characteristic breeding call.