Hump: meaning, definitions and examples

🐫

Add to dictionary

hump

[ hʌmp ]

^{Context #1}

animal anatomy

A rounded protuberance found on the back of a camel or other animal, typically composed of fat.

Synonyms

bump, lump, protuberance

Examples of usage

The camel's hump stores fat to sustain it through long periods without food.
The hump on the bison's back is a distinctive feature of the species.

^{Context #2}

physical feature

A rounded raised area or lump on a surface or part of the body.

Synonyms

bump, lump, protuberance

Examples of usage

She felt a hump on the back of the chair.
He noticed a hump in the road ahead.

^{Context #3}

informal

To carry something heavy, usually on the back.

Synonyms

carry, haul, transport

Examples of usage

She had to hump the groceries up the stairs.
The workers humped the heavy equipment across the field.

Translations

Translations of the word "hump" in other languages:

🇵🇹 corcova

🇮🇳 कूबड़

🇩🇪 Buckel

🇮🇩 punuk

🇺🇦 горб

🇵🇱 garb

🇯🇵 こぶ

🇫🇷 bosse

🇪🇸 joroba

🇹🇷 kambur

🇰🇷 혹

🇸🇦 حدبة

🇨🇿 hrb

🇸🇰 hrb

🇨🇳 驼峰

🇸🇮 grba

🇮🇸 hryggur

🇰🇿 өркеш

🇬🇪 კუზი

🇦🇿 kambur

🇲🇽 joroba

Word origin

The word 'hump' originated in the early 18th century as a variant of the word 'hummock,' meaning a small hill or mound. Over time, it came to be associated with the rounded shape of a camel's back or a similar protrusion on other animals. The verb form of 'hump' likely developed from the physical action of carrying a heavy load over a hilly terrain, akin to the motion of a humpbacked animal.