clump
Americannoun
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a small, close group or cluster, especially of trees or other plants.
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a lump or mass
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a heavy, thumping step, sound, etc.
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Immunology. a cluster of agglutinated bacteria, red blood cells, etc.
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a thick extra sole on a shoe.
verb (used without object)
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Also clomp to walk heavily and clumsily.
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Immunology. to gather or be gathered into clumps; agglutinate.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a cluster, as of trees or plants
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a dull heavy tread or any similar sound
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an irregular mass
a clump of hair or earth
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an inactive mass of microorganisms, esp a mass of bacteria produced as a result of agglutination
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an extra sole on a shoe
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slang a blow
verb
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(intr) to walk or tread heavily
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to gather or be gathered into clumps, clusters, clots, etc
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to cause (bacteria, blood cells, etc) to collect together or (of bacteria, etc) to collect together
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slang (tr) to punch (someone)
Other Word Forms
- clumpiness noun
- clumpish adjective
- clumplike adjective
- clumpy adjective
Etymology
Origin of clump
First recorded in 1580–90; akin to Dutch klompe “lump, mass,” Old English clympre “lump of metal”
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.
Make sure to stir the rice and milk so that the rice doesn’t clump up.
From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026
However, the mineral alternatives tend to clump together into larger aggregates.
From Science Daily • Oct. 21, 2025
The team spotted Poncho under a clump of brush and found Crosby asleep on the ground nearby.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2025
When enough of these pebbles clump together, they can collapse under their own weight to form asteroid-sized rocks, which hoover up the material around them until they’ve grown into full-sized planets.
From Space Scoop • Jul. 16, 2025
Might be an old boot or a tire or a plastic milk crate or a clump of seaweed.
From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
