bumper

¹

[buhm-per]

noun

1. a person or thing that bumps.

2. a metal guard, usually horizontal, for protecting the front or rear of an automobile, truck, etc.

3. any protective rim, guard, pad, or disk for absorbing shock and preventing damage from bumping as a rubber-tipped doorstop or an old tire on the side of a boat.

4. a cup or glass filled to the brim, as with beer.

5. Informal.,  something unusually large.

6. a person who molds bricks by hand.

7. Foundry.,  a machine for ramming sand into a mold.

8. a carangid fish, Chlorosombrus chrysurus, of southern U.S. and Cuban coastal seas.

9. Television.

   1. Also called bumper tease. Also bump in a news program, a brief teaser coming at the end of a segment just before commercials, announcing or previewing a forthcoming story.

   2. Also called commercial bumper,. Also called break bumper. a brief interval of music, graphics, or voiceover serving as a transition between program and advertising content.

adjective

1. unusually abundant.

   Bumper crops reaped a big profit for local farmers.

verb (used with object)

1. to fill to the brim.

bumper

²

[buhm-per]

noun

Australian Slang.

1. the unconsumed end of a cigarette; cigarette butt.

bumper

¹

/ ˈbʌmpə /

noun

1. a glass, tankard, etc, filled to the brim, esp as a toast

2. an unusually large or fine example of something

adjective

1. unusually large, fine, or abundant

   a bumper crop

verb

1. (tr) to toast with a bumper

2. (tr) to fill to the brim

3. (intr) to drink bumpers

bumper

²

/ ˈbʌmpə /

noun

1. a horizontal metal bar attached to the front or rear end of a car, lorry, etc, to protect against damage from impact

2. a person or machine that bumps

3. cricket a ball bowled so that it bounces high on pitching; bouncer

bumper

³

/ ˈbʌmpə /

noun

1. old-fashioned,  a cigarette end

Word History and Origins

Origin of bumper¹

First recorded in 1750–60; bump + -er ¹

Origin of bumper²

First recorded in 1890–95; expressive coinage, perhaps blend of butt ¹ and stump + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bumper¹

C17 (in the sense: a brimming glass): probably from bump (obsolete vb) to bulge; see _bump

Origin of bumper²

C19: perhaps from a blend of _butt ¹ and _stump

Example Sentences

Yet there’s reason to believe consumers may feel more upbeat early next year, as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act should generate a “bumper crop of income-tax refunds,” according to Kelly.

Read more on MarketWatch

His wide-ranging interview with us follows a series of difficult moments for the industry as soaring energy prices pushed household bills up and saw bumper dividends to shareholders and pay packets to bosses - including him.

Read more on BBC

Although rising temperatures have led to more frequent bumper crops of acorns, the nuts still produce good and bad harvests every two to five years as part of their normal crop cycle.

Read more on Barron's

A glut of corn and soybeans after several years of bumper crops has depressed prices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He warned, however, that "patience will be needed for those hoping for a return to bumper payouts to shareholders".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• ample 
• bountiful 
• fertile 
• generous 
• productive 
• prolific 
• sufficient 
• unlimited