humpback

American  

[huhmp-bak] / ˈhʌmpˌbæk /

noun

1. a back that is humped in a convex position.

2. kyphosis.

3. the humpback whale.

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humpback British  

/ ˈhʌmpˌbæk /

noun

1. another word for hunchback

2. Also called: humpback whale.  a large whalebone whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, closely related and similar to the rorquals but with a humped back and long flippers: family Balaenopteridae

3. a Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, the male of which has a humped back and hooked jaws

4. Also called: humpback bridge.  a road bridge having a sharp incline and decline and usually a narrow roadway

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Other Word Forms

• humpbacked adjective

Etymology

Origin of humpback

First recorded in 1690–1700; apparently back formation from humpbacked

Example Sentences

The study placed humpback whale bones on the deep ocean floor and monitored them for signs of life.

From Science Daily

The researchers used drones carrying sterile petri dishes to capture droplets from the exhaled breath of humpback, fin and sperm whales, combined with skin biopsies taken from boats.

From BBC

In another essay, Mr. Hoagland travels to Antarctica while in a state of mourning, and is moved by observing the bonds among humpback whales.

From The Wall Street Journal

Martin's Wild Water Whales initiative uses various tech including drones to study key species such as blue and humpback whales.

From Barron's

Picnic in our backpacks, my husband and I hiked in from the Palomarin Headlands — about 2.5 miles — along cliffs where you can spot gray and humpback whales, and shaded paths where dappled shadows dance.

From Los Angeles Times