clump

1 of 2

noun

ˈkləmp

Synonyms of clump next

: a group of things clustered together

a clump of bushes

: a compact mass

: a heavy tramping sound

clumpy

ˈkləm-pē

adjective

clump

2 of 2

verb

clumped; clumping; clumps

intransitive verb

: to walk or move clumsily and noisily

: to form clumps

transitive verb

: to arrange in or cause to form clumps

Example Sentences

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

The Alzheimer’s field has for decades been fixated on the idea that clumps, or plaques, of beta-amyloid are the main factor driving the disease, and the new Lilly data bolster that hypothesis. —

Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 3 May 2023 Teams of workers wearing white overalls and blue gloves are using jet hoses to clear small, mysterious clumps of oil that drifted ashore last year along about six km of Croatia's northern Adriatic coast, moving fast before the tourists arrive. —

Fox News, 27 Apr. 2023 One dense clump of stars seems to represent the Pleiades (and more accurately than the Lascaux cave painting). —

Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2023 Then add the remaining cold butter and process until small clumps remain, creating pockets of steam as the scones bake. —

America's Test Kitchen, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2023 Inside the bubble-like structure of the remnant, bright pink light can be seen, along with features that resemble clumps and knots. —

Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Apr. 2023 So too, can clumps of ancient pollen, which also impart information about the frequency of precipitation and the composition of soil, thanks to the variety and amount of pollen preserved in particular areas. —

Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2023 Miami Beach, Florida, aerial view of public beach restoration with Sargassum, smelly seaweed that's been traversing the Atlantic Ocean in massive clumps. —

Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2023 The bit at 2:32 was particularly incredible, with the R1 deftly maneuvering itself around a small clump of branches. —

IEEE Spectrum, 8 Mar. 2023

Verb

Thienel says that decreasing the levels of this particular protein likely reduces the platelets’ penchant for clumping together and restricting blood flow. —

Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2023 North Eastern’s team clumped together for a celebratory picture postgame at center ice. —

Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2023 Other blood tests are proving accurate in detecting amyloid plaques—the proteins that clump together in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, leading to eventual loss of memory and thinking skills—even before cognitive declines have been experienced. —

Laura Landro, wsj.com, 19 Apr. 2023 Unlike a lot of vegan protein powders that clump and congeal when mixed, this powder mixes in a breeze and blends well into baked goods, too. —

Paul Kita, Men's Health, 5 Apr. 2023 Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon to make sure the pasta isn’t clumping together. —

G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2023 The formula didn’t clump or cake on my curly lashes and lasted all day. —

ELLE, 25 Feb. 2023 Continue until dough starts to clump. —

Paris Wolfe, cleveland, 23 Sep. 2022 The technique the scientists used revolves around the tendency of certain isotopes of carbon and oxygen to clump together when a mineral forms. —

Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 24 June 2011 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clump.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.