Definition

1. 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.

2. 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  • The outdated software was a hamper on the company's efficiency.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

1. a basket usually with a cover
2. a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)

Verb

1. put at a disadvantage
   • The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements
2. 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