clump

noun \ ˈkləmp \

Definition of clump

1 :a group of things clustered together

a clump of bushes

2 :a compact mass

3 :a heavy tramping sound

—

clumpy

play \ˈkləm-pē\ adjective

See clump defined for English-language learners

See clump defined for kids

Examples of clump in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of clump from the Web

Further down the street, small clumps of supporters and protesters started heated debates, with each side holding up their smartphones to record the interaction.

— jenna johnson, Washington Post, "As Trump ranted and rambled in Phoenix, his crowd slowly thinned," 23 Aug. 2017
Some of the ring material clumps into mobile mountain ranges that are miles high.

— dean regas, Cincinnati.com, "Skywatch: Solving the mystery of Saturn's rings," 25 July 2017
That time Sean Spicer literally hid in a clump of bushes.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "7 Notable, Strange, and Infuriating Moments from Sean Spicer's Time as Press Secretary," 21 July 2017
All of this abnormal protein sticks together in clumps.

— mark johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In tracking a lethal family of diseases that threatens humans and animals, scientists have become the hunters," 6 July 2017
Combine sugar, salt, pepper, and caraway seeds in a small bowl, using your fingers to break up any clumps. 2.

— sarah karnasiewicz, WSJ, "Recipe: Black Pepper and Caraway Gravlax," 29 June 2017
Mark Vaughan, director of California's Auburn Medical Group, has been professionally extracting huge clumps of wax from people's ears, Refinery29 reports.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Earwax Extraction Videos Are Going Viral Now," 23 June 2017
The amygdala and hippocampus, two clumps of gray matter that help govern our moods and emotions, shrink as well.

— rene chun, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside the Los Angeles Clinic That Uses Ketamine to Treat Depression," 19 June 2017
Compare that to the big clump on the left: Most Americans pay very little each year.

— andrew mcgill, The Atlantic, "The Platinum Patients," 16 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of clump

probably from Low German klump

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1586

See Words from the same year

clump Synonyms

Synonyms

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

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

clump

verb

Definition of clump

intransitive verb

1 :to walk or move clumsily and noisily

2 :to form clumps

transitive verb

:to arrange in or cause to form clumps

See clump defined for English-language learners

Examples of clump in a Sentence

The virus clumps the cells together.
a child clumping around the house in her father's oversized boots

Recent Examples of clump from the Web

La Jolla,’ succulent blue fingers of Senecio mandraliscae and clumping blue grass, Festuca glauca.

— nan sterman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Stunning streetscapes are inspiration for gardeners," 3 Aug. 2017
BSE, like all spongiform encephalopathy diseases, involves malformed prion proteins that spur normal proteins to deform and clump in the brain and spinal cord.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "“Atypical” mad cow disease detected in Alabama," 19 July 2017
Add water, a tablespoon at a time, and pulse until mixture just begins to clump together.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Peach and Blackberry Hand Pies," 11 July 2017
Those monthly charges will all be clumped in one big media bill.

— scott canon, kansascity, "Sprint’s reported talks with cable companies speak to the power of the bundle," 27 June 2017
At the turn of the 20th century, Austrian scientist Karl Landsteiner used vials of his own blood to prove that different blood types in humans exist — and that incompatible ones will clump if mixed together.

— erin blakemore, Washington Post, "Some scientists have been their own guinea pigs in the lab," 24 June 2017
Order them stir-fried; the high heat of the wok prevents the noodles from clumping together or getting greasy.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "10 standout seafood dishes," 9 June 2017
Bleeding is a common side effect in the current crop of available antiplatelet drugs, which are usually prescribed for heart patients to prevent blood cells, called platelets, from clumping together and forming clots.

— susan scutti, CNN, "Snake venom is key ingredient in experimental drug for heart patients," 8 June 2017
Survivors are clumped around the 165 million acres stretching from Colorado up to the Dakotas and out to California, habitat that also is home to 300 other species, including golden eagles.

— bruce finley, The Denver Post, "Grouse storm: Trump team launches protection plan review, vows greater flexibility for states and industry," 7 June 2017

First Known Use of clump

1665

clump Synonyms

Synonyms

barge, clomp, lumber, flog [British], flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge

Antonyms

breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

Related Words

drag, flop, haul; blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble (also wabble)

Near Antonyms

drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

CLUMP Defined for English Language Learners

clump

noun

Definition of clump for English Language Learners

: a small ball or mass of something
: a group of things or people that are close together
: a loud, heavy sound made by footsteps

clump

verb

Definition of clump for English Language Learners

: to form a mass or clump
: to walk with loud, heavy steps

CLUMP Defined for Kids

clump

noun \ ˈkləmp \

Definition of clump for Students

1 :a group of things clustered together

a clump of bushes

2 :a cluster or lump of something

A clump of mashed potatoes fell on his lap.

3 :a heavy tramping sound

clump

verb

Definition of clump for Students

clumped; clumping

1 :to form or cause to form a clump or clumps

2 :to walk with loud heavy steps :clomp

Medical Dictionary

clump

noun \ ˈkləmp \

medical Definition of clump

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

clump

intransitive verb

medical Definition of clump

:to form clumps

transitive verb

:to arrange in or cause to form clumps

the serum clumps the bacteria

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

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clump

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CLUMP Defined for English Language Learners

clump

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clump

Definition of clump for English Language Learners

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clump

Definition of clump for Students

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clump

medical Definition of clump

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