camel

The word “camel” means a large, humped mammal adapted to desert life, used for transport and as a beast of burden. In plain terms, the desert animal known for its hump(s); also a warm, sandy-brown colour named after it.

“Camel” is pronounced KAML (/ˈkæm(ə)l/ in IPA).

Here is “camel” used in a sentence: “They crossed the desert on the backs of camels.”

Depending on how it is used, “camel” can be a noun and an adjective.

The word “camel” comes from Latin. From Latin camēlus, from Greek kámēlos, ultimately from a Semitic root related to Arabic jamal and Hebrew gamal.

“Camel” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Camel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, humped mammal adapted to desert life, used for transport and as a beast of burden.

"Camel" is the general name for the large, humped desert mammal, while dromedary and Bactrian camel refer to its two main types: the dromedary has one hump and the Bactrian camel has two. Both are adapted to desert life and used for transport and carrying loads.

Camel humps do not store water directly; they store fat, which the animal can break down for energy and moisture when food is scarce. This fat reserve, rather than water in the hump, is part of what allows camels to survive long periods without eating or drinking.

As a colour, camel describes a light brownish shade similar to the natural coat of a camel, commonly used to describe clothing, coats, and fabric. It functions as both a noun for the colour and an adjective, as in "a camel coat."