clutter

[kluht-er]

verb (used with object)

1. to fill or litter with things in a disorderly manner.

   All kinds of papers cluttered the top of his desk.

verb (used without object)

1. British Dialect.,  to run in disorder; move with bustle and confusion.

2. British Dialect.,  to make a clatter.

3. to speak so rapidly and inexactly that distortions of sound and phrasing result.

noun

1. a disorderly heap or assemblage; litter.

   It's impossible to find anything in all this clutter.

   Synonyms: jumble, disorder, mess

2. a state or condition of confusion.

3. confused noise; clatter.

4. an echo or echoes on a radar screen that do not come from the target and can be caused by such factors as atmospheric conditions, objects other than the target, chaff, and jamming of the radar signal.

clutter

/ ˈklʌtə /

verb

1. to strew or amass (objects) in a disorderly manner

2. (intr) to move about in a bustling manner

3. (intr) to chatter or babble

noun

1. a disordered heap or mass of objects

2. a state of disorder

3. unwanted echoes that confuse the observation of signals on a radar screen

Other Word Forms

• overclutter verb (used with object)
• unclutter verb (used with object)
• uncluttered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of clutter¹

1550–60; variant of clotter (now obsolete), equivalent to clot + -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of clutter¹

C15 clotter, from clotteren to _clot

Example Sentences

But as they dug deeper, the real culprit emerged - it wasn't clutter but the foul smell that was driving the footwear outdoors.

From BBC

His opposing number has had a more cluttered countdown.

From BBC

A three-bedroom house in north Wales, heavily cluttered with rubbish, is set to go to auction with all contents left in place.

From BBC

"Selling is a fantastic way to make money out of your clutter, but you have to exercise some realism," she says.

From BBC

Trying to hold every appointment, task and reminder in your head can quickly lead to mental clutter and forgetfulness.

From BBC

Related Words

• litter 
• muddle 
• strew