Meaning & use

hump

noun·Everyday

A rounded, raised part on a surface or on an animal's back.

See it in a sentence

The camel's hump stores fat, not water, as many people mistakenly believe.

The car bounced hard as it went over the speed hump too quickly.

A note on using this word

Getting past a difficult early stage of something is often called 'getting over the hump', a common figurative use of the word.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. verb

To carry something heavy, especially by lifting or dragging it, informally.

We spent the whole afternoon humping boxes up three flights of stairs.

Make it your own

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