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hump

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hump

[huhmp]
–noun
1. a 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 Geography.
a. a low, rounded rise of ground; hummock.
b. 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.
a. an act or instance of coitus.
b. a partner in coitus.
5. the hump,
a. British Slang. a fit of depression or bad humor: to get the hump.
b. (initial capital letter) (in World War II) the Himalayas.
–verb (used with object)
6. to raise (the back) in a hump; hunch: The cat humped its back.
7. Railroads. to sort (cars) by means of a hump.
8. Informal. to exert (oneself) in a great effort.
9. Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
10. Slang.
a. to place or bear on the back or shoulder.
b. to carry or haul.
c. to load or unload; lift.
–verb (used without object)
11. to rise in a hump.
12. Informal. to exert oneself; hustle or hurry.
13. Slang: Vulgar. to engage in sexual intercourse.
14. 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.

Origin:
1700–10; prob. abstracted from humpbacked


humper, noun
humpless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hump
hump   (hŭmp)   
n.  
  1. A rounded mass or protuberance, such as the fleshy structure on the back of a camel or of some cattle.

  2. A deformity of the back in humans caused by an abnormal convex curvature of the upper spine.

  3. Vulgar Slang The act or an instance of having sexual intercourse.

    1. A low mound of earth; a hummock.

    2. A mountain range.

  4. Chiefly British A fit of depression; an emotional slump.

v.   humped, hump·ing, humps

v.   tr.
  1. To bend or round into a hump; arch.

  2. Slang

    1. To exert (oneself).

    2. To carry, especially on the back.

  3. Vulgar Slang To engage in sexual intercourse with.

v.   intr.
  1. Slang To exert oneself.

  2. Slang To hurry.

  3. Vulgar Slang To engage in sexual intercourse.


[Probably of Low German origin.]
humped (hŭmpt) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hump
Pronunciation: 'h&mp
Function: noun
: a rounded protuberance; especially : HUMPBACK
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

hump

see over the hump.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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