clump

[ kluhmp ]
See synonyms for: clumpclumped on Thesaurus.com

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

  2. a lump or mass

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

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

  3. a thick extra sole on a shoe.

verb (used without object)
  1. Also clomp [klomp] /klɒmp/ . 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.

Origin of clump

1
First recorded in 1580–90; akin to Dutch klompe “lump, mass,” Old English clympre “lump of metal”

Other words from clump

  • clumpy, clumpish, clumplike, adjective

Words Nearby clump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use clump in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clump

clump

/ (klʌmp) /


noun
  1. a cluster, as of trees or plants

  2. a dull heavy tread or any similar sound

  1. an irregular mass: a clump of hair or earth

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

  3. an extra sole on a shoe

  4. slang a blow

verb
  1. (intr) to walk or tread heavily

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

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

  2. (tr) slang to punch (someone)

Origin of clump

1
Old English clympe; related to Middle Dutch klampe heap of hay, Middle Low German klampe clamp ², Swedish klimp small lump

Derived forms of clump

  • clumpy, adjective
  • clumpiness, noun

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