bump

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an impact as from a collision

   The bump threw me off the bicycle.

2. 2
   verb

   to knock against with force or violence

   My car bumped into the tree.

3. 3
   verb

   to dance erotically or dance with the pelvis thrust forward

   I have been known to bump when my jam comes on the radio.

4. 4
   verb

   to come upon, as if by accident

   I bumped into them at the store.

5. 5
   verb

   to assign to a lower position

   I had to bump them due to performance issues.

6. 6
   noun

   A light blow or jolting collision.

   His car had a tiny bump with a moving bus.

7. 7
   noun

   The sound of such a collision.

   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.

8. 8
   noun

   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.

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.