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Glite Dictionary
🐋 A large whale 👤 A hunched person 🦴 Curved spine
humpback

humpback

1 7.5
A curve in the upper spine that makes the back bend and stick out
  • noun
  • /ˈhʌmpˌbæk/
  • Archaic
translation icon : joroba
  • He was self-conscious about his humpback, which often made it hard for him to find clothes that fit well.

Examples

  • The doctor explained that a humpback could lead to chronic back pain if not treated early.

  • He moves cumbersomely, has emphysema, and a bit of a humpback, and the slack look of a plump man who lost weight because his doctor told him to.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • After years of working at a desk, she developed a noticeable humpback that caused her discomfort while sitting.

Synonyms

kyphosis
vshumpback
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A strong forward bend of the upper spine that makes the back rounded

is the everyday descriptive term for the same rounded back condition
spinal curvature
vshumpback
  • Specialized
6.4

A bend in the spine that is not normal and can cause pain or health problems

is a specific rounded back caused by backward curvature rather than any backbone bend

Compounds

humpback whale
6 2.7

A large whale with long flippers that arches its back when diving

humpback bridge
6.7

A small crossing with a steep curved middle that people and cars use over water

Surface Forms

humpback singular
humpbacks plural

Morphology

humpback = hump + back (transparent) = hump + back

Meaning is directly built from 'hump' + 'back' — a back with a hump; learners who know both words can infer this meaning.

Etymology

Humpback comes from the simple parts hump and back, where a hump is a rounded bump like a camel's. So a humpback is a 'hump' on the 'back', which helps you remember it as the spine curve that makes the back look rounded.