What does hump mean?
A hump is a raised, rounded part of a surface or body. It may refer to the distinctive projection on the back of a camel or other animal, a rise in the ground or roadway, or a prominent mass more generally. In figurative use, it can suggest a conspicuous feature that draws attention. As a verb, hump describes raising the shoulders and upper back, as when someone is cold, uncomfortable, or unwilling to participate. The word is straightforward and widely understood in both British and American English. It is also familiar from compound expressions such as “humpback whale,” where it identifies the rounded back or raised ridge associated with that animal.
A rounded projection on the back of an animal or person; a raised or rounded mass; a rise in a surface.
"A large hump rose above the camel's load."
The word can also refer metaphorically to a prominent feature, but it is not normally used for every small bump.
To raise the shoulders and upper back, or to move with the body bent into a hunched posture.
"He humped his shoulders against the biting wind."
Often implies a posture associated with cold, discomfort, effort, or reluctance.
The plural is used for multiple rounded projections or rises.
"The camel's humps rose above the horizon."
A hump can describe a camel's load-bearing shape, a rise in a road, or the shape of someone's shoulders when they are cold, uneasy, or unwilling to engage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hump
The word comes through Middle English, where forms such as hump and humpe were used for a rounded projection or swelling. Its precise early development is associated with Germanic vocabulary, and the word is related to forms in other Germanic languages. Modern derivatives, including humpback and humpbacked, continue to express the idea of a raised or curved projection.
Related word forms
How hump is actually used
The noun is common in British and American English. The verb is especially associated with a person drawing the shoulders upward and forward, often to express discomfort, cold, reluctance, or resignation.
Easily confused with hump
A hump is typically an elongated or rounded projection, while a lump is a more general swelling or irregular mass.