clump

American  

[kluhmp] / klʌmp /

noun

1. a small, close group or cluster, especially of trees or other plants.

2. a lump or mass

3. a heavy, thumping step, sound, etc.

4. Immunology. a cluster of agglutinated bacteria, red blood cells, etc.

5. a thick extra sole on a shoe.

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verb (used without object)

1. Also clomp to walk heavily and clumsily.

2. Immunology. to gather or be gathered into clumps; agglutinate.

verb (used with object)

1. to gather or form into a clump; mass.

clump British  

/ klʌmp /

noun

1. a cluster, as of trees or plants

2. a dull heavy tread or any similar sound

3. an irregular mass

   a clump of hair or earth

4. an inactive mass of microorganisms, esp a mass of bacteria produced as a result of agglutination

5. an extra sole on a shoe

6. slang a blow

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verb

1. (intr) to walk or tread heavily

2. to gather or be gathered into clumps, clusters, clots, etc

3. to cause (bacteria, blood cells, etc) to collect together or (of bacteria, etc) to collect together

4. 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

As a result, the times are clumped much closer together and Shiffrin has less of a chance to distinguish herself with what she does best.

From Los Angeles Times

In this environment, clumps of material form several planetary embryos at roughly the same time.

From Science Daily

What seems like it was once a stylish living room is cluttered with piles of Lego bricks, broken doll heads, and clumps of dried Play-Doh.

From Literature

It swirled around the trees, too, and rose like steam from the glossy mud and clumps of reeds that stretched away on all sides.

From Literature

There was a clump of dirt on the end.

From Literature

Related Words

• blob
• bundle
• chunk
• cluster
• hunk
• jumble
• knot
• lump
• wad