Dumpster
/ˈdʌmpstər/
Definitions
A large, usually metal, container designed to hold trash or waste materials.
/ˈdʌmpstər/
A large container for disposing of refuse or waste.
The city provides dumpsters for residential waste disposal.
💡 Simply: Think of a giant trash can, usually made of metal, that's used to throw away a lot of stuff. Like, if you're cleaning your house, and you have a bunch of old stuff you don't need anymore, you might put it in a dumpster. They're often found behind buildings or at construction sites.
👶 For kids: A big metal box that holds trash.
More Examples
The sanitation workers emptied the dumpster.
The dumpster was overflowing with recycling.
How It's Used
"The garbage truck emptied the overflowing dumpster."
"The construction crew filled the dumpster with debris from the demolition."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From the Dumpster, a brand name of waste containers, which became a generic term. The company that created the Dumpster, Dempster Brothers, Inc., originally manufactured the containers for transporting waste, but their name became synonymous with the product.
The word's usage grew in the mid-20th century with the rise of waste management practices and the widespread use of the product, particularly in urban areas.
Memory tip
Imagine a big metal BOX where you DUMP your stuff.
Word Origin
"Derived from the brand name 'Dumpster' and the verb 'dump'. It originated from the name Dempster Brothers Inc."