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. informal,  a fit of depression or sulking (esp in the phrase it gives me the hump )

5. 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. informal,  (of a tramp) to carry one's belongings from place to place on one's back

Other Word Forms

• humplike adjective
• humper noun
• humpless 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.

see over the hump.

Example Sentences

“I’m just here to be another piece to hopefully get over the hump,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

"I know there are some PRs whose default it is to lean into humour to bridge the scandal and get over the hump."

From BBC

Now it’s just about taking those small steps in all those areas to, I guess, hypothetically push you over the hump.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I feel he’s trying to will his way to kind of getting us over the hump. He’s competing. He’s taking really good at-bats. And he’s fighting. So I love what he’s doing.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Perhaps we got carried away by the response to tourism in Kashmir. We thought we were over a hump but we were not."

From BBC