hump

[hʌmp]

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A hump is a bump or a curve that sticks out from something. It can also be used to describe an awkward situation.

When we talk about humps, most of the time we're talking about something physical like a camel's back or a mountain range with a high point in the middle. But "hump" is also used in idiomatic expressions. For example, if you have to get over a difficult problem and then things will be okay, people might say that's just a hump to get through. If someone has to work hard for a while before they're successful, they might say it was just a hump to climb.

How common is "hump"?

Word hump is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

A mound of earth.
A deformity in humans caused by abnormal curvature of the upper spine.
(animals) A rounded fleshy mass, such as on a camel or zebu.
An act of sexual intercourse.
(with definite article) A bad mood.
Example: get the hump, have the hump, take the hump, give someone the hump
A painfully boorish person.
Example: That guy is such a hump!
A speed hump.
A wave that forms in front of an operating hovercraft and impedes progress at low speeds.