hamper
/'hæmpə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A large basket with a lid, typically used for storing or transporting items, especially food or laundry: A "hamper" is a container, often made of wicker or similar material, designed to hold specific items.
- Something that impedes or restricts movement or progress: A "hamper" can also refer to a restraint or an encumbrance that limits freedom or action.
Verb:
- To hinder or impede the movement, progress, or action of someone or something: To "hamper" means to create difficulties that slow down or prevent free and easy action.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- She packed a picnic hamper with sandwiches and fruit. (She filled a large basket for a picnic.)
- The prisoner's hamper was a set of heavy chains. (The restraint limiting the prisoner's freedom was chains.)
Verb:
- The fallen tree hampered traffic on the narrow road. (The tree obstructed the flow of traffic.)
- His recovery was hampered by a lack of proper medicine. (His progress toward getting better was slowed by an absence of medicine.)
Advanced Usage
"to be a hamper on": to act as a significant impediment to something.
- The outdated software was a hamper on the company's efficiency. (The old software was a major obstacle to efficiency.)
"to hamper efforts": to make attempts to do something more difficult.
- Constant interruptions hampered her efforts to finish the report. (Frequent disruptions hindered her attempts to complete the report.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hindrance (n): something that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to action or progress. (A synonym for the noun form meaning an impediment.)
- Impede (v): to delay or block the progress or action of. (A synonym for the verb form.)
- Laundry hamper (n phrase): a specific type of hamper, usually an open basket or container, used for holding dirty clothes before washing.
Synonyms
- Noun (basket): basket, crate, bin.
- Noun (hindrance): obstacle, impediment, restraint, encumbrance.
- Verb: hinder, impede, obstruct, inhibit, restrict, handicap.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Hamper" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically conveyed as a standalone verb.)
Related Idioms
- "To throw a spanner in the works": (British English idiom) To cause a disruption or problem that prevents something from happening smoothly. This is conceptually similar to the verb "to hamper."
- His sudden resignation threw a spanner in the works of the project. (His unexpected resignation severely hampered the project.)
Noun
- a basket usually with a cover
- a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)
Verb
- put at a disadvantage
- The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements
- prevent the progress or free movement of
- He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather
- the imperialist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries