# gump

/ˈɡəmp/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gump
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. aviation mnemonic

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Propeller. Pilots use this to remember the final checks before landing a plane.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Propeller. An acronymic mnemonic used by pilots during the pre-landing checklist, particularly in complex, piston-engine aircraft.

- The flight instructor reminded the student to perform his GUMP check before entering the final approach.
- Failure to complete the GUMP sequence, particularly verifying the undercarriage position, remains a leading cause of gear-up landing incidents in general aviation.

Usage: Often used as a collective noun for the checklist itself; frequently capitalized as GUMP or GUMPs.

### 2. a foolish person

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Informal · Archaic

a person who is silly or lacks good sense.

For teachers: a foolish, dull-witted, or simple-minded person.

- In the old story, the main character was a lovable gump who always found trouble.
- The local residents often dismissed him as a harmless gump, unaware of the sharp intellect he hid behind his slow speech.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely archaic in modern speech, though it remains recognizable due to literary and cinematic references.

### 3. gumption

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Dialect

a short, informal way to say gumption, meaning courage or initiative.

For teachers: a clipping of gumption, referring to initiative, resourcefulness, or courage.

- You need a bit of gump if you want to start your own business.
- The coach praised the rookie for showing enough gump to take the final shot despite the immense pressure.

Usage: Typically uncountable when used in this sense.

## Examples

- The pilot performed his GUMP check before entering the final approach.
- Even experienced pilots rely on the GUMP mnemonic to prevent gear-up landings during busy traffic patterns.
- While modern glass cockpits provide automated alerts, many flight instructors still insist that students verbalize the GUMP sequence to build a disciplined habit of manual verification before touchdown.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.