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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Humboldt Scientific  
/ hŭmbōlt′,hmbôlt′ /
  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.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Once these cables meet land, they’ll connect to a new substation near Humboldt Harbor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The 14,800-kilometer Humboldt cable, currently being built between Valparaiso and Sydney, will be the first between South America and the Asia-Pacific.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

It’s tucked in an old-growth redwood tree in the backcountry of the park, in Humboldt County, where there are no roads and a creek presents an impassable barrier, Williams-Claussen said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

Keepers said the penguins travelled "well" and had joined the zoo's existing colony of Humboldt and King penguins.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

“I noticed you talking with Humboldt Koper outside the smoking lounge last night.”

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini