clump

[kluhmp]

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.

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

/ 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

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

• clumpy adjective
• clumpish adjective
• clumplike adjective
• clumpiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clump¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of clump¹

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

Example Sentences

Digging a healthy clump of potatoes from the rich, black soil, Craig says, "potatoes are an amazing crop. You can't knock that, but we know things need to change."

From BBC

The team spotted Poncho under a clump of brush and found Crosby asleep on the ground nearby.

From Los Angeles Times

Dead fish began washing ashore in clumps, all tangled in thick mats of toxic algae.

From Salon

He threw her on to the floor, pulled out a large clump of her hair and spat in her face.

From BBC

However, the report concluded that “this substance clumps together in stool, causing long, stringy structures to form,” which made the patients think they were passing worms when they were not.

From Salon

Related Words

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