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 bump. Also called bumper tease. 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,. 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 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

²

/ 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

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 ¹and stump

Example Sentences

But even a decade ago, it was becoming clear that the real epicenters of vaccine refusal were right-wing religious groups, not people with fading Barack Obama bumper stickers.

From Salon

The bumper cars sat in their own shadows.

From Los Angeles Times

But questions remain over Walker's own interest - he is on a bumper contract at Channel 5 and has persistently batted away suggestions of a return to the BBC.

From BBC

It was introduced in May 2022 after energy firms recorded bumper profits due to the rise in energy prices.

From BBC

There was no energy, little celebrity movement, few campaign signs and cheeky bumper stickers.

From Salon

Related Words

• armor
• buffer
• bulwark
• safeguard
• shelter