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hummock

hummock

1 8.7
A small rounded mound that rises above low ground
  • noun
  • /ˈhʌmək/
translation icon : montículo
  • As we walked through the valley, we noticed a small hummock rising gently above the surrounding landscape.
  • hummocks of grass
  • mossy hummocks
  • small hummock

Examples

  • From the top of the hummock, we could see the entire village nestled in the lowlands below.

  • I left Tyrk in the hideout and walked out onto the muddy island, stepping from hummock to hummock to keep my feet dry.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • There was a hummock of grass between her shoulder blades.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • By day, I sleep behind a hummock or boulder near the road.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Then he stood next to me and paused to look out at the hummock of grass.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I tried to leap from hummock to hummock of swamp grass to keep from sinking into the mud, but I eventually missed.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The guy said the hummocks are pretty much grazed out.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • They've just about grazed out the available hummock grass on the island.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Randy screamed again and ran for the nearest hummock of rock.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The hatch drew away to reveal a dry valley, with pale plains visible beyond a pair of hummocks.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

hill
vshummock
1.0

A raised area of land that is not as high as a mountain

is smaller and more rounded, often appearing above low lying terrain
hump
vshummock
133 3.3

A raised round part on something, like a camel's back or a road bump

describes a land rise rather than a protruding body or object part
mound
vshummock
40 1.7

A small raised area of earth or stones

is the natural rounded rise specifically found above low ground
knoll
vshummock
20 7.2

A small round hill covered with grass

is the kind that specifically rises above low lying areas
molehill
vshummock
11 2.8

A small pile of earth made by a mole under the ground

refers to a natural land rise rather than an animal made heap
hillock
vshummock
3 5.2

A small low hill with gentle sides

is used for one that stands out above surrounding low land
breck
vshummock
  • UK
1 9.9

A small grassy hill where people can sit or play

is the general geographic term for a small rise above low areas

How Big

mountain
1.0
hill
1.0
hummock
1 8.7
bump
118 2.5

Surface Forms

hummock singular
hummocks plural

Morphology

hummock = hump (transparent) = hump + ock

The word denotes a small hump; the diminutive suffix '-ock' forms a smaller mound from 'hump', so learners knowing 'hump' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Hummock is easy to remember if you think of the familiar word hump, meaning a small 'round bump'. A hummock is literally a little rounded hill or mound that rises above flat ground, like a grassy bump in a marsh, so this image explains the word's meaning today.