clot

play

noun \ ˈklät \

Definition of clot

1 :a portion of a substance adhering together in a thick nondescript mass (as of clay or gum)

2 a :a roundish viscous lump formed by coagulation of a portion of liquid or by melting

b :a coagulated mass produced by clotting of blood

3 British :blockhead

4 :cluster, group

a clot of spectators

See clot defined for English-language learners

See clot defined for kids

Examples of clot in a Sentence

We were told that his stroke was caused by a clot in his brain.
a clot of daisies occupied one corner of the flower bed

Recent Examples of clot from the Web

Two women stood over me and pressed down on my abdomen and incision, while the on-call OB (mine had gone back to her office when things looked fine) reached inside of me and pulled out blood clots by hand.

— rachel stuhler, Cosmopolitan, "I Almost Died During Childbirth. I’m Not Alone.," 21 Aug. 2017
Progestin-only pills are also a popular option for women with health problems such as blood clots or estrogen-dependent tumors.

— candice jalili, Teen Vogue, "How Birth Control Affects Your Body," 2 Aug. 2017
John McCain's health After McCain's surgery for a clot above the eye, there'd been lots of speculation from medical experts, including in The New York Times and on NPR.

— The Hive, "Unpacking the Times’s “Incredible” Trump Interview," 20 July 2017
An ischemic stroke, which accounts for about 87 percent of all strokes, is when blood flow in an artery is blocked by atherosclerotic plaque debris or when a clot of blood originating in another artery, or from the heart, travels to the brain.

— for kentuckyone health, The Courier-Journal, "Where is your nearest stroke care center?," 19 July 2017
The student was hospitalized for his injuries and diagnosed with a blood clot in his head, prosecutors said.

— nick swedberg, Daily Southtown, "South Holland woman charged in 2015 fatal beating of granddaughter's boyfriend," 19 July 2017
Last Friday the 80-year-old Arizona senator had a blood clot removed from above his left eye at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "John McCain Diagnosed With Brain Cancer," 19 July 2017
Mr. McCain learned of the tumor after undergoing surgery late last week at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix to remove a blood clot above his left eye.

— carl hulse, New York Times, "John McCain Has Brain Cancer, Senator’s Office Says," 19 July 2017
Tissue analysis since that procedure revealed that a brain tumor known as a glioblastoma was associated with the clot, his office said.

— reuters, Fortune, "U.S. Senator John McCain Has Been Diagnosed with Aggressive Brain Cancer," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clot

Middle English, from Old English clott; akin to Middle High German klōz lump, ball — more at clout

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

clot Synonyms

Synonyms

array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, group, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite

Antonyms

brain, genius

Related Words

accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration; agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety; cycle, run, series, suit

Near Antonyms

entity, item, single, unit

clot

verb

Definition of clot

clotted; clotting

intransitive verb

1 :to become a clot :form clots

2 :to undergo a sequence of complex chemical and physical reactions that results in conversion of fluid blood into a coagulated mass :coagulate

transitive verb

1 :to cause to form into or as if into a clot

2 :to fill with clots; also :clog

clotted streets

See clot defined for English-language learners

Examples of clot in a Sentence

medications that prevent blood from clotting
substances that help to clot blood

Recent Examples of clot from the Web

For Jackson and Henry, the biggest problems are with their heart, their digestive system, and inability for their blood to clot.

— lindsey welling, Philly.com, "At ages 9 and 11, boys are veteran health lobbyists," 22 Aug. 2017
These include medications that thin the blood (aspirin; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen; warfarin; and newer oral anti-clotting agents) and dietary supplements such as fish oil, ginger, ginkgo biloba and ginseng.

— consumer reports, Washington Post, "When should people worry about bruising?," 19 Aug. 2017
People suffering from bleeding disorders often lack proteins in their blood that help their blood to clot, meaning even the smallest of injuries can lead to excessive bleeding.

— hilary clarke, CNN, "UK to launch inquiry into tainted blood product that killed 2,400 patients," 11 July 2017
Afternoon Tea: Saturday, June 24, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Join Cecelia and the Friends of the Somers Library for a free, luxurious afternoon of delicious finger sandwiches, crumpets, scones, clotted cream, and small delectable desserts.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Enfield Edition," 19 June 2017
Television satellite trucks clotted the street in front of the pre-Civil War stone courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where Cosby's trial was held.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Bill Cosby trial: What happens next?," 18 June 2017
The phyllo is shredded into gossamer strands and gilded with butter; the cheese, akin to mozzarella, is made more voluptuous with ashta, Lebanese clotted cream.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "The Smoky Allure of Lebanon Wafts Through Wafa’s Express," 13 Apr. 2017
Born with a life-threatening platelet disorder, James' blood wasn't clotting.

— jenae sitzes, Country Living, "These Sweet Milestone Cards for Preemies Will Move You To Tears," 14 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of clot

15th century

clot Synonyms

Synonyms

block, choke, clog, congest, dam, gum (up), jam, obstruct, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff

Antonyms

clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Related Words

bung, cork, spile, stopper, stopple; fill, gridlock, pack; fur, silt; flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp

Near Antonyms

excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out); empty, lighten

CLOT Defined for English Language Learners

clot

play

noun

Definition of clot for English Language Learners

: a stupid person

clot

verb

Definition of clot for English Language Learners

: to become thick and partly solid : to develop clots

CLOT Defined for Kids

clot

play

noun \ ˈklät \

Definition of clot for Students

:a lump made by some substance getting thicker and sticking together

a blood clot

clot

verb

Definition of clot for Students

clotted; clotting

:to become thick and partly solid

Medical Dictionary

clot

play

noun \ ˈklät \

medical Definition of clot

:a coagulated mass produced by clotting of blood

clot

verb

medical Definition of clot

clotted; clotting

intransitive verb

:to undergo a sequence of complex chemical and physical reactions that results in conversion of fluid blood into a coagulum and that involves shedding of blood, release of thromboplastin from blood platelets and injured tissues, inactivation of heparin by thromboplastin permitting calcium ions of the plasma to convert prothrombin to thrombin, interaction of thrombin with fibrinogen to form an insoluble fibrin network in which blood cells and plasma are trapped, and contraction of the network to squeeze out excess fluid :coagulate

transitive verb

:to cause to form into or as if into a clot

Learn More about clot

See words that rhyme with clot Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for clot Spanish Central: Translation of clot Nglish: Translation of clot for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of clot for Arabic speakers

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clot

Definition of clot

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clot Synonyms

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CLOT Defined for English Language Learners

clot

Definition of clot for English Language Learners

clot

Definition of clot for English Language Learners

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clot

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clot

Definition of clot for Students

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clot

medical Definition of clot

clot

medical Definition of clot

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