clump

1 of 2

noun

ˈkləmp 

1

: a group of things clustered together

a clump of bushes

2

: a compact mass

3

: a heavy tramping sound

clumpy

ˈkləm-pē 

adjective

clump

2 of 2

verb

clumped; clumping; clumps

intransitive verb

1

: to walk or move clumsily and noisily

2

: to form clumps

transitive verb

: to arrange in or cause to form clumps

Synonyms of clump

Noun

• cluster
• batch
• bunch
• collection
• array
• grouping
• group
• assemblage

Verb

• shuffle
• stomp
• stumble
• lump
• slough

Examples of clump in a Sentence

Noun

There is a clump of bushes at the edge of the field.

I could hear the clump of his footsteps as he came down the stairs.

Verb

The virus clumps the cells together.

a child clumping around the house in her father's oversized boots

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of the things my daughter and I both love is how this mascara keeps lashes defined and clump-free, even with multiple coats. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 10 Mar. 2026

Divide the clumps every three years or so to spread around your garden. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026

Verb

First, a few grains of dust clump together in the disk of material around a newborn star, and their combined gravity is enough to start attracting even more dust. —Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026

These areas mimic a natural desert oasis environment, where trees are clumped together and left to grow naturally, producing fruit and nourishing the local wildlife. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from Low German klump

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1665, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for clump

• bump
• chump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• hump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump
• slump

Kids Definition

clump

1 of 2 noun

ˈkləmp 

1

: a group of things clustered together

a clump of bushes

2

: a cluster or lump of something

3

: a heavy tramping sound

clumpy

ˈkləm-pē 

adjective

clump

2 of 2 verb

1

: to walk or move clumsily and noisily

2

: to form or cause to form clumps

Medical Definition

clump

1 of 2 noun

ˈkləmp 

: a clustered mass of particles (as bacteria or blood cells) compare agglutination

clump

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to form clumps

transitive verb

: to arrange in or cause to form clumps

the serum clumps the bacteria