dump core

verb

To generate a core dump.

“Sorry, I dumped core on you.”

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Meanings

verbdump core (third-person singular simple present dumps core, present participle dumping core, simple past and past participle dumped core)

present singular third person dumps core · participle present dumping core · participle past dumped core · past dumped core

  1. intransitivecomputingTo generate a core dump.

    Traditionally, UNIX and UNIX-like systems have dumped core or provided a binary output of their state upon crashing.

    2007, Jon Masters, Richard Blum, Professional Linux programming
  2. slangcomputingTo ramble pointlessly at length; especially used in apology

    Sorry, I dumped core on you.

  3. slangcomputingTo transfer a large quantity of information or knowledge from one person to another, particularly subjects of a technical nature; to lecture

    Jack dumped core on how to operate the server before he left on holiday.

Cite this entry
APA

dump core. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dump%20core

MLA

“dump core.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dump%20core. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dump core,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dump%20core.

Source: dump core on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.