clump

1 of 2

noun

ˈkləmp How to pronounce clump (audio)
Synonyms of clumpnext
1
: a group of things clustered together
a clump of bushes
2
: a compact mass
3
: a heavy tramping sound
clumpy
ˈkləm-pē How to pronounce clump (audio)
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

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Made with solid brush fibers, the applicator combs and controls the placement of the product so the finish is clump-free. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026 This one grows in 3-foot-tall clumps that are soft blue-green in spring and early summer, changing to shades of orange, red and purple in fall. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
The different theories provide different answers for how dark matter should clump. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Improper washing can cause down and feathers to clump permanently. — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clump

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of clump was circa 1586

Rhymes for clump

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Browse Nearby Words

clumber spaniel
clump
clump block
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clump. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clump

1 of 2 noun
ˈkləmp How to pronounce clump (audio)
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 How to pronounce clump (audio)
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 How to pronounce clump (audio)
: 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
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