7 VERB If something or someone humbles you, they make you realize that you are not as important or good as you thought you were. □ [V n] Ted's words humbled me. ● hum|bled ADJ □ I came away very humbled and recognizing that I, for one, am not well-informed. ● hum|bling ADJ □ Giving up an addiction is a humbling experience.
hum|bug /hʌ mbʌg/ N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's language or behaviour as humbug , you mean that it is dishonest or insincere. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ There was all the usual humbug and obligatory compliments from ministers.
hum|ding|er /hʌ md I ŋə r / (humdingers ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft a N of n] If you describe someone or something as a humdinger , you mean that they are very impressive, exciting, or enjoyable. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] It should be a humdinger of a match. □ His latest novel is a humdinger.
hum|drum /hʌ mdrʌm/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as humdrum , you mean that they are ordinary, dull, or boring. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a lawyer, trapped in a humdrum but well-paid job.
hu|mid /hjuː m I d/ ADJ You use humid to describe an atmosphere or climate that is very damp, and usually very hot. □ Visitors can expect hot and humid conditions.
hu|midi|fi|er /hjuːm I d I fa I ə r / (humidifiers ) N‑COUNT A humidifier is a machine for increasing the amount of moisture in the air.
hu|mid|ity /hjuːm I d I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT You say there is humidity when the air feels very heavy and damp. □ The heat and humidity were insufferable.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Humidity is the amount of water in the air. □ The humidity is relatively low.
hu|mili|ate /hjuːm I lie I t/ (humiliates , humiliating , humiliated ) VERB To humiliate someone means to say or do something which makes them feel ashamed or stupid. □ [be V -ed] She had been beaten and humiliated by her husband. □ [V n] His teacher continually humiliates him in maths lessons. ● hu|mili|at|ed ADJ □ I have never felt so humiliated in my life.
hu|mili|at|ing /hjuːm I lie I t I ŋ/ ADJ If something is humiliating , it embarrasses you and makes you feel ashamed and stupid. □ The Party leader suffered a humiliating defeat. ● hu|mili|at|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, ADV adj/-ed] □ Thousands of men struggled humiliatingly for jobs. □ He was caught cheating and humiliatingly stripped of his title.
hu|milia|tion /hjuːm I lie I ʃ ə n/ (humiliations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Humiliation is the embarrassment and shame you feel when someone makes you appear stupid, or when you make a mistake in public. □ She faced the humiliation of discussing her husband's affair.
2 N‑COUNT A humiliation is an occasion or a situation in which you feel embarrassed and ashamed. □ The result is a humiliation for the prime minister.
hu|mil|ity /hjuːm I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone who has humility is not proud and does not believe they are better than other people. □ …a deep sense of humility.
humming|bird /hʌ m I ŋbɜː r d/ (hummingbirds ) N‑COUNT A hummingbird is a small brightly coloured bird found in America, especially Central and South America. It has a long thin beak and powerful narrow wings that can move very fast.
hum|mock /hʌ mək/ (hummocks ) N‑COUNT A hummock is a small raised area of ground, like a very small hill.
hum|mus /huː məs/ → see houmous
hu|mong|ous /hjuːmʌ ŋgəs/ also humungous ADJ If you describe something or someone as humongous , you are emphasizing that they are very large or important. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ We had a humongous row just because she left. □ Barbra Streisand is such a humungous star.
hu|mor /hjuː mə r / → see humour
hu|mor|ist /hjuː mər I st/ (humorists ) N‑COUNT A humorist is a writer who specializes in writing amusing things. □ …a political humorist.
hu|mor|ous /hjuː mərəs/ ADJ If someone or something is humorous , they are amusing, especially in a clever or witty way. □ He was quite humorous, and I liked that about him. ● hu|mor|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ He looked at me humorously as he wrestled with the door.
hu|mour ◆◇◇ /hjuː mə r / (humours , humouring , humoured ) in AM, use humor 1 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the amusing things that people say as their humour . □ Her humour and determination were a source of inspiration to others.
2 → see also sense of humour
3 N‑UNCOUNT Humour is a quality in something that makes you laugh, for example in a situation, in someone's words or actions, or in a book or film. □ [+ of ] She felt sorry for the man but couldn't ignore the humour of the situation.
4 N‑VAR If you are in a good humour , you feel cheerful and happy, and are pleasant to people. If you are in a bad humour , you feel bad-tempered and unhappy, and are unpleasant to people. □ Christina was still not clear why he had been in such ill humour.
5 N‑UNCOUNT [adj N ] If you do something with good humour , you do it cheerfully and pleasantly. □ Hugo bore his illness with great courage and good humour.
6 VERB If you humour someone who is behaving strangely, you try to please them or pretend to agree with them, so that they will not become upset. □ [V n] She will actually sit and watch them with me, to humour me. COLLOCATIONS humour NOUN
1
noun + humour : gallows, schoolboy, slapstick, toilet