/ hʌmp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a large lump that sticks out above the surface of sth, especially the ground :
the dark hump of the mountain in the distance
( BrE )
a road / speed / traffic hump (= a hump on a road that forces traffic to drive more slowly)
2.
a large lump on the back of some animals, especially camels
3.
a large lump on the back of a person, caused by an unusual curve in the spine (= the row of bones in the middle of the back)
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IDIOMS
- be over the hump
- get / take the hump
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
( BrE ) to carry sth heavy :
I've been humping furniture around all day.
2.
( taboo , slang ) to have sex with sb
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent.: probably related to Low German humpe hump, also to Dutch homp , Low German humpe lump, hunk (of bread).