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View synonyms for clump

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)

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Derived Forms

  • ˈclumpy, adjective
  • ˈclumpiness, noun

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Other Words From

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of clump1

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

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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

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Example Sentences

Mistletoe bushes clump on branches like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.

The drain clogs in the shower every few days, and the clump of tangled brown hair is springy between my fingers.

Blood platelets clump together more slowly in chocolate eaters, the studies say.

For example, on Diaspora you clump people into “Aspects” like Friends, Family, and Acquaintances.

And in her right hand was a clump of hair that did not belong to her.

Chumru quickly picked out the house of a zemindar, or land-owner, which stood in its own walled enclosure behind a clump of trees.

What was equally important, a thick clump of cottonwood and willow furnished tolerably secure concealment.

The broad veranda was shaded by a clump of tall banana-trees, swaying to and fro in the gentle breeze.

It was nearly six weeks after the day that she had watched him as far as the clump of willows that he came again.

A horse or a tree or a clump of brush loomed up grotesquely in the vaporous blur.

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