clump

[kluhmp]

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.

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

Related Words for clump

bundle, chunk, wad, lump, cluster, hunk, blob, knot, jumble, body, set, group, parcel, hodgepodge, shock, batch, gob, nugget, clutter, lot

Examples from the Web for clump

Contemporary Examples of 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
For example, on Diaspora you clump people into “Aspects” like Friends, Family, and Acquaintances.
Little Hope for Facebook Rival
Dan Lyons
September 2, 2011
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
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

Historical Examples of clump

On the homeward way they turned into a lane and came to a clump of catnip.
A Night Out
Edward Peple
As a rule he waited on the top of the hill in the clump of pines.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
Philip repeated to Mr. Stubmore the story he had imparted to Mr. Clump.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
How would this clump of bushes serve for a hiding place while we wait?
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
Crouching low in the shade of a clump of bushes, Grant stole toward the spot.
Good Indian
B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for clump

clump

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

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."

v.2

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

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.