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)

Derived Forms

• ˈclumpy, adjective
• ˈclumpiness, noun

Other Words From

• clumpy clumpish clumplike adjective

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

Sintering causes nickel particles to clump, reducing the surface area available for chemical reactions.

From Science Daily

The kitten had clumps of hair at the sides of its mouth.

From NewsForKids.net

Antiplatelet drugs are medicines used to prevent strokes and stop platelets from clumping together.

From Science Daily

But after three weeks, specific genes inside these so-called "stem cells" switch on, passing along instructions on how to specialise and clump together to form the various bits of the body.

From BBC

All that’s left is a clump of white painted metal clinging to the mountainside among the cacti and sandy brown soil.

From Los Angeles Times