lump

1 of 4

noun

ˈləmp 

1

: a piece or mass of indefinite size and shape

a lump of coal

a lump of clay

2

a

: aggregate, totality

taken in the lump

b

: majority

few candidates ever started with such a lump who did not get the nomination

—R. L. Strout

3

: protuberance

especially : an abnormal swelling

came to with nothing more than a lump on his head

4

: a person who is heavy and awkward

a lump of a man

also : one who is stupid or dull

5

lumps plural

a

: beatings, bruises

had taken a lot of lumps growing up in the city

b

: defeat, loss

can cheerfully take his lumps on losers, because the payout is big on the winners

—Martin Mayer

lump

2 of 4

verb (1)

lumped; lumping; lumps

transitive verb

1

: to group indiscriminately

2

: to make into lumps

also : to make lumps on or in

3

: to move noisily and clumsily

intransitive verb

1

: to become formed into lumps

2

: to move oneself noisily and clumsily

lump

3 of 4

adjective

: not divided into parts : entire

a lump sum

lump

4 of 4

verb (2)

lumped; lumping; lumps

transitive verb

: to put up with

like it or lump it

Phrases

lump in one's throat

: a constriction of the throat caused by emotion

Synonyms

Noun

• blob
• chunk
• clod
• clot
• clump
• dollop
• glob
• gob
• gobbet
• hunk
• knob
• nub
• nubble
• nugget
• wad

Verb (1)

• accumulate
• amass
• assemble
• bulk (up)
• collect
• concentrate
• congregate
• constellate
• corral
• garner
• gather
• group
• pick up
• round up

Examples of lump in a Sentence

Noun

turning a lump of clay into a beautiful pot

He got a lump on his head after bumping into the doorway.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When it’s injected into the skin, patients may experience swelling, bruising and tenderness at the site of injection, and occasional lumps, per WebMD. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024

Their bodies are covered in warts and lumps of various sizes and shapes. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb (1), and Adjective

Middle English

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1624, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lump

• a lump in one's throat
• like it or lump it
• lump in one's throat
• lump it
• lump sum
• sugar lump

Kids Definition

lump

1 of 3 noun

ˈləmp 

1

: a small uneven mass

2

: a collection or sum of units or parts : total

taken in the lump

3

: an abnormal swelling or growth

lump

2 of 3 adjective

: not divided into parts : whole

a lump sum

lump

3 of 3 verb

1

: to group together

2

: to move noisily and clumsily

3

: to form into a lump

Medical Definition

lump

noun

ˈləmp 

1

: a piece or mass of indefinite size and shape

2

: an abnormal mass or swelling

presenting as a neck lump