Humboldt

American  

[huhm-bohlt, hoom-bawlt] / ˈhʌm boʊlt, ˈhʊm bɔlt /

noun

1. Friedrich Heinrich Alexander Baron von 1769–1859, German naturalist, writer, and statesman.

2. his brother (Karl) Wilhelm Baron von, 1767–1835, German philologist and diplomat.

3. a town in NW Tennessee.

4. a river in NE Nevada, flowing W and SW to the Humboldt Sink. 290 miles (467 km) long.

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Humboldt British  

/ ˈhʊmbɔlt, ˈhʌmbəʊlt /

noun

1. Baron ( Friedrich Heinrich ) Alexander von (alɛˈksandər fɔn). 1769–1859, German scientist, who made important scientific explorations in Central and South America (1799–1804). In Kosmos (1845–62), he provided a comprehensive description of the physical universe

2. his brother, Baron ( Karl ) Wilhelm von (ˈvɪlhɛlm fɔn). 1767–1835, German philologist and educational reformer

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Humboldt Scientific  

/ hŭm′bōlt′,hm′bôlt′ /

1. German naturalist and writer who explored South America, Cuba, and Mexico (1799–1804) and recorded a wide range of species, particularly plants, and attempted to explain their geographic distribution with respect to their environment. His work laid the foundation the science of ecology.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Humboldt

The same animal was observed without a net Aug. 22 off the coast of Humboldt County, and Sept. 20 near San Luis Obispo, according to reports.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

Around 1800, Alexander von Humboldt noticed something unusual while studying a tropical tree.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

In Humboldt County’s North Spit, near Eureka, tides were 9 inches higher than forecast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable in the wild due to threats such as climate change, overfishing and habitat disturbance.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

During this period, the exact date unclear, a milk peddler named Joseph McCarthy stopped his cart near Chicago’s Humboldt Park.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson