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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Bump: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：collide lightly (bump)

bump 🔊

/bʌmp/

To accidentally hit someone or something with a sudden, often not very hard, knock.

Illustration of a child bumping their leg on a coffee table, showing a light collision.

collide lightly 🔊

➕

/kəˈlaɪd ˈlaɪtli/

To accidentally come into contact with an object or person with a gentle impact.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Middle English 'bumpen', imitative of the sound of a blow.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of the sound 'bump' when you accidentally hit something.

📖 Example

I was rushing through the kitchen and bumped my hip against the corner of the table. 🔊 I accidentally struck my hip on the table corner while hurrying through the kitchen.

🔗 Collocations

bump into – to meet someone by chance

bump against – to hit something lightly

bump up – to increase something slightly

🔄 Synonyms

knock (v.) – to strike something with a quick blow

hit (v.) – to come into contact with force

collide (v.) – to crash into something

🚫 Antonyms

avoid (v.) – to stay clear of

miss (v.) – to fail to hit

🌱 Derivatives

bumper (n.) – a protective device on vehicles

bumpy (adj.) – having an uneven surface

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'bump' originated in the 16th century as an onomatopoeic term mimicking the dull sound of an impact.

Meaning 2：small swelling (bump)

bump 🔊

/bʌmp/

A small, raised area on a surface, especially on your skin after a knock or an insect bite.

Close-up photo of a red raised skin bump on a knee, like an insect bite.

small swelling 🔊

➕

/smɔːl ˈswɛlɪŋ/

A minor raised area on the skin, often resulting from an injury or insect bite.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

A mosquito bit me last night, and now there's a red, itchy bump on my leg. 🔊 After being bitten by a mosquito, a red, itchy swelling appeared on my leg.

🔗 Collocations

goose bump – a temporary raised area on skin due to cold or fear

speed bump – a raised ridge on a road to slow traffic

bump on the head – a swelling from a head injury

🔄 Synonyms

lump (n.) – a small mass or swelling

swelling (n.) – an enlarged area from fluid accumulation

knot (n.) – a hard lump in tissue

🚫 Antonyms

flat (adj.) – smooth and even

🌱 Derivatives

bumpy (adj.) – having bumps or irregularities