I. ˈbəmpə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from bump (I) (in obsolete sense, to bulge, be protuberant) + -er
1. : a cup or glass filled to the brim or till the liquor runs over especially in drinking a toast
2. : something unusually large
3. : a fish ( Chloroscombrus chrysurus ) of the family Carangidae of the southern United States and West Indies
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to fill to the brim (as a wineglass) and empty by drinking
2. : to toast with a bumper
intransitive verb
: to drink bumpers of wine or other alcoholic beverages
III. adjective
1. : unusually large
a bumper crop of wheat
2. : very good, fine, or successful
going to be a bumper winter on TV — probably the best ever — Glasgow Sunday Post
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: bump (I) + -er
1. : one that bumps or operates a machine or device that bumps: as
a. : a bumping-die press operator
b. : one who backs up a riveting dolly with another hammer
c. : one who molds handmade bricks
d. : one that hammers sheet metal into shape by hand or machine:
(1) : one who removes dents from automobile bodies and fenders or from sheet-metal parts of airplanes — called also dingman
(2) : one who straightens damaged ship plates by a heating and cooling process
e. : an engraver's assistant in the making of textile printing rolls
f. : a bowled ball in cricket that bumps
g. chiefly Britain : a smashing machine in bookbinding ; also : the operator of such a machine
h.
(1) : a hand canceler for canceling stamps on second, third, and fourth-class mail ; also : a hand canceler for use on registered mail
(2) : a cancellation mark made by such a canceler
i. : a worker who bumps broomcorn fibers up and down on a table to even them prior to measuring and cutting
2. : a device or attachment (as on a vehicle) for absorbing shock and lessening or preventing damage in collision or impact with another object: as
a. : a metal bar or metal bars attached to either end of an automobile or other powered transportation vehicle to prevent damage to the body
b. : a buffer (as a log or a bundle of rope) suspended down the side of a ship or boat or suspended or floating alongside a landing or docking place
c. also bumper beam : a timber or casting across the frame ends of a railroad engine, tender, or car
d. : bumping post
e. : a usually rubber-tipped doorstop attached to a wall behind a door to keep the door from hitting the wall
f. : a protective cornerpiece (as on a suitcase) made of metal, leather, or other durable material
g. : a rubber or plastic guard running around the base portion of a vacuum cleaner as a protection to furniture
h. : a protective pad designed to fit around the inside of a baby's crib
3. : a flat metallic disk in or on the pavement that is used in some traffic signaling systems and that may be run over without being injured and without damaging the vehicle
4. : a woman's hat with a narrow brim fashioned like a tube or padded roll ; also : an imitation of this style
5. Australia : a cigarette butt
V. adjective
: having a curved armless end or ends — used of an upholstered divan or unit of one
a bumper sofa
sofas fitted with bumper units
VI. noun
Etymology: bumper (IV)
: a brief interval on radio or television filled with music, video shots, or voice-overs that marks a break usually between a program and a commercial