hump

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhʌmp/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/hʌmp/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(hump)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hump /hʌmp/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Pathology, Zoologya rounded lump that sticks out noticeably, as on the back of a camel.

v. 
  1. [~ + object] to raise (the back) in a hump;
    hunch.
  2. Slang Terms[~ + object;
    no object]    (vulgar ). to have sexual intercourse (with).
  3. Informal Terms[no object][Slang.]to hurry;
    rush.
Idioms
  1. Idioms over the hump, past the worst part of something.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hump  (hump),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Pathology, Zoologya rounded protuberance, esp. a fleshy protuberance on the back, as that due to abnormal curvature of the spine in humans, or that normally present in certain animals, as the camel or bison.
  2. [Physical Geog.]
    • Geographya low, rounded rise of ground;
      hummock.
    • Geographya mountain or mountain range.
  3. Rail Transport(in a switchyard) a raised area down which cars pushed to its crest roll by gravity and momentum for automatic sorting through a series of preset switches.
  4. Slang Terms(vulgar).
    • an act or instance of coitus.
    • a partner in coitus.
  5. British Terms the hump:
    • [Brit. Slang.]a fit of depression or bad humor:to get the hump.
    • (cap.) (in World War II) the Himalayas.
  6. Idioms over the hump, past the most difficult, time-consuming, or dangerous part or period:The doctor says she's over the hump now and should improve steadily.

v.t. 
  1. to raise (the back) in a hump;
    hunch:The cat humped its back.
  2. Rail Transportto sort (cars) by means of a hump.
  3. Informal Termsto exert (oneself ) in a great effort.
  4. Slang Terms(vulgar). to have sexual intercourse with.
  5. Slang Terms
    • to place or bear on the back or shoulder.
    • to carry or haul.
    • to load or unload;
      lift.

v.i. 
  1. to rise in a hump.
  2. Informal Termsto exert oneself;
    hustle or hurry.
  3. Slang Terms(vulgar). to engage in sexual intercourse.
  • probably abstracted from humpbacked 1700–10
hump′er, n. 
hump′less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hump /hʌmp/ n
  1. a rounded protuberance or projection, as of earth, sand, etc
  2. a rounded deformity of the back in persons with kyphosis, consisting of a convex spinal curvature
  3. a rounded protuberance on the back of a camel or related animal
  4. the hump ⇒ Brit informal a fit of depression or sulking (esp in the phrase it gives me the hump)
 vb
  1. to form or become a hump; hunch; arch
  2. (transitive) Brit slang to carry or heave
  3. vulgar slang to have sexual intercourse with (someone)
Etymology: 18th Century: probably from earlier humpbacked
'hump' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Arabian camel - bluey - cabbage - dromedary - eland - gibbous - hummock - hunch - hunchback - middelmannetjie - road hump - speed bump - tuber - umbo - boil - brown bear - bulge - cuphea - dowager's hump - gibberellic acid - hubble - humpbacked - humpback salmon - humpback whale - humped - humped cattle - Humpty Dumpty - humpy - zebu
Collocations: the camel's hump, the camel has two humps, the camel has one hump, more...

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