clump

[ kluhmp ]

/ klʌmp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clump ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

a lump or mass

a heavy, thumping step, sound, etc.

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

a thick extra sole on a shoe.

verb (used without object)

Also clomp. to walk heavily and clumsily.

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

verb (used with object)

to gather or form into a clump; mass.

Nearby words

clued-up, clueless, cluj, cluj-napoca, clumber spaniel, clump, clumperton, clumping, clumpy, clumsy, clunes

Origin of clump

1580–90; akin to Dutch klompe lump, mass, Old English clympre lump of metal

Related formsclump·y, clump·ish, clump·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clump

The drain clogs in the shower every few days, and the clump of tangled brown hair is springy between my fingers.
Birth Control Made My Hair Fall Out, and I’m Not the Only One|Molly Oswaks|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For example, on Diaspora you clump people into “Aspects” like Friends, Family, and Acquaintances.
Little Hope for Facebook Rival|Dan Lyons|September 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And in her right hand was a clump of hair that did not belong to her.
Who Is the Haircut Killer?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Only one thing was different: a clump of her hair had been cut from her head.
Who Is the Haircut Killer?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST

The tents were put up near a clump of trees, where there was a well.
At the Court of the Amr|John Alfred Gray
It was of light iron, and it could be opened into a clump of bushes where it was not likely to be noticed.
John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told Therein|Frank R. Stockton
Keeping on the outside, he commenced walking the animal in a spiral ring that gradually closed in upon the clump.
The Scalp Hunters|Mayne Reid
The little group that had gathered followed the coffin to a clump of trees not far removed.
Sons and Fathers|Harry Stillwell Edwards
In passing a clump of rosebushes Tom stopped to extricate a fragment of silk from the thorns.
A Noble Woman|Ann S. Stephens

British Dictionary definitions for clump

clump

/ (klʌmp) /

noun

a cluster, as of trees or plants

a dull heavy tread or any similar sound

an irregular massa clump of hair or earth

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

an extra sole on a shoe

slang a blow

verb

(intr) to walk or tread heavily

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

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

(tr) slang to punch (someone)

Derived Formsclumpy, adjectiveclumpiness, noun

Word Origin for clump

Old English clympe; related to Middle Dutch klampe heap of hay, Middle Low German klampe clamp ², Swedish klimp small lump

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clump (1 of 3)

clump

1580s, "lump; cluster of trees," from Middle English clompe "a lump" (c.1300), from Dutch klomp "lump, mass," or Middle Low German klumpe "clog, wooden shoe." Old English had clympre "lump, mass of metal."

Word Origin and History for clump (1 of 3)

clump

v.2

"walk heavily," 1660s, imitative. Related: Clumped; clumping.

Word Origin and History for clump (2 of 3)

clump

v.1

"to heap or gather in clumps" (transitive), 1824, from clump (n.). Related: Clumped; clumping. Intransitive sense "to form a clump or clumps" is recorded from 1896.

clump

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of clump

Examples from the Web for clump

British Dictionary definitions for clump

clump

noun

verb

Word Origin for clump

Word Origin and History for clump (1 of 3)

clump

Word Origin and History for clump (1 of 3)

clump

Word Origin and History for clump (2 of 3)

clump