hump

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small hill or a raised part of a road used to slow down cars.

n. a rounded mound of earth or a raised pavement section designed to reduce vehicle speed in residential areas.

“The driver slowed down as the car went over a speed hump.”

“Local residents petitioned the council to install speed humps to discourage motorists from using their narrow street as a shortcut.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Informal

n. a state of being annoyed or in a bad mood.

n. a fit of depression or sulkiness; a state of annoyance.

“Don't talk to him right now; he's got the hump because his team lost.”

“She’s had the hump all afternoon ever since the manager rejected her proposal without providing any constructive feedback.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to carry something heavy with a lot of effort.

v. to carry or lug a heavy or awkward object, typically over a distance and with significant physical exertion.

“We had to hump all our camping gear up the side of the mountain.”

“The infantry were expected to hump fifty-pound packs across the rugged terrain for hours without a break.”

C1 · Advanced Slang · Vulgar

v. to have sex with someone.

v. to engage in sexual intercourse; to thrust the pelvis rhythmically against someone or something.

“The dog was trying to hump the visitor's leg.”

“The film was criticized for a scene where the characters hump in a public park, which many viewers found unnecessary.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to curve your back or a surface into a rounded shape.

v. to arch or bend something into a hump-like shape.

“The cat humped its back and hissed when the dog approached.”

“The old man humped his shoulders against the wind as he trudged through the snowstorm.”