camel

/ˈkæməl/

/ˈkæməl/

Other forms: camels

A camel is a four-legged desert animal that's slightly larger than a horse. Camels are distinctive for the humps on their backs.

There are two types of camels: the single-humped or dromedary and the two-humped camel. The first kind lives in the Middle East and parts of Africa, while the second is found in Central Asia. All camels are well-suited to life in the desert, going long periods without water and able to withstand high heat. The word camel comes from the Greek kamelos, and may be related to the Arabic jamala, "to bear."

Definitions of camel

1. noun

   cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
   types:

   Arabian camel, Camelus dromedarius, dromedary

   one-humped camel of the hot deserts of northern Africa and southwestern Asia

   Bactrian camel, Camelus bactrianus

   two-humped camel of the cold deserts of central Asia

   type of:

   artiodactyl, artiodactyl mammal, even-toed ungulate

   placental mammal having hooves with an even number of functional toes on each foot