clump

American  

[kluhmp] / klʌmp /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

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

Etymology

Origin of clump

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

Example Sentences

Hers came out smooth and velvety while his clumped up.

From Literature

I grab it near its base and pull it from the pot; clumps of still-wet soil fall to the floor.

From Literature

These plasma clumps are carried along by the star's magnetic field, forming a doughnut shaped structure called a torus.

From Science Daily

If the crystals clump, they lose surface area needed to process more heme efficiently.

From Science Daily

Two men were clumping down the stairs and into the dining room carrying something between them.

From Literature

Related Words

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