hump

[ huhmp ]

noun

1. a rounded protuberance, especially 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 Geography.
   1. a low, rounded rise of ground; hummock.
   2. a mountain or mountain range.
3. Railroads. (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: Vulgar.
   1. an act or instance of sexual intercourse.
   2. a partner in sexual intercourse.
5. the hump,
   1. British Slang. a fit of depression or bad humor:

      to get the hump.

   2. (initial capital letter) (in World War II) the Himalayas.

verb (used with object)

1. to raise (the back) in a hump; hunch:

   The cat humped its back.

2. Railroads. to sort (cars) by means of a hump.
3. Informal. to exert (oneself ) in a great effort.
4. Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
5. Slang.
   1. to place or bear on the back or shoulder.
   2. to carry or haul.
   3. to load or unload; lift.

verb (used without object)

1. to rise in a hump.
2. Informal. to exert oneself; hustle or hurry.
3. Slang: Vulgar. to engage in sexual intercourse.

hump

/ hʌmp /

noun

1. a rounded protuberance or projection, as of earth, sand, etc
2. pathol 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 informal.
   a fit of depression or sulking (esp in the phrase it gives me the hump )
5. over the hump
   past the largest or most difficult portion of work, time, etc

verb

1. to form or become a hump; hunch; arch
2. slang.
   tr to carry or heave
3. slang.
   to have sexual intercourse with (someone)
4. hump one's swag informal.
   (of a tramp) to carry one's belongings from place to place on one's back

Derived Forms

• ˈhumpˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• humper noun
• humpless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hump¹

First recorded in 1700–10; probably abstracted from humpbacked; akin to Frisian hompe “lump, chunk,” Dutch homp “lump, chunk,” Middle Low German hump “bump,” Norwegian dialect hupp, hump “flank (of an animal),” or Low German humpel, hümpel “height, knob, hump (of a camel)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hump¹

C18: probably from earlier humpbacked

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing hump

see over the hump .

Example Sentences

In the meantime, though, the challenge is getting through that “hump” of people waiting to be assessed – with the belief that, over time, the increase in diagnoses should lessen.

From BBC

In Brazil, 80% of the cows are Zebus, a subspecies originating in India with a distinctive hump and dewlap, or folds of draping neck skin.

From Seattle Times

“And great opportunity to build a team that can move forward and become something, not better, but get over the hump a little bit here.”

From Seattle Times

Scott says he gave him a quick “bro hug” and that Spacey bear-gripped him and started rubbing his face into his neck and humping him.

From Los Angeles Times

I elbowed her aside and peered down over Aunt Fannie’s humped shoulder, into the depths of the marble.

From Literature