dump
He dumped his old clothes in the trash.
He carelessly discarded his old clothes in the trash.
to get rid of something unwanted or unnecessary
She dumped her toxic relationship.
She ended her toxic relationship abruptly.
The company dumped the outdated software.
The company discarded the outdated software.
Often implies a sudden or careless action.
to unload or empty (e.g., a container or vehicle)
The truck dumped its cargo at the warehouse.
The truck unloaded its cargo at the warehouse.
Common in logistics and transportation.
a place where waste or garbage is left
The abandoned lot became a dump for illegal trash.
The abandoned lot became a place where illegal trash was discarded.
Can also refer to a messy or unpleasant place.
in computing, to transfer data from memory to a storage device
The system dumps the data to the hard drive.
The system transfers the data from memory to the hard drive.
Common in programming and IT contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'dump' in computing
In programming, 'dump' often refers to transferring data from memory to storage. Context helps distinguish between general and technical uses.
Gold Rule
Use 'dump' for sudden or careless discarding
The word 'dump' implies a lack of care or thoughtfulness in discarding something. Avoid using it for planned or deliberate disposal.
Word Origin
From Middle English *dumpen* (to fall suddenly), likely of imitative origin, related to the sound of something heavy falling.
Usage Notes
The verb 'dump' is informal when used to mean 'discard' or 'abandon.' In computing, it is a technical term. The noun 'dump' can refer to a messy place or a data transfer operation.