noun / verb
clutter
KLUT-ur/klˈʌtɝ/
An untidy collection of things, or filling a space with one.
Tangled cables, cups, books, and loose papers clutter the desk.
Etymology
Clotern described forming clots or heaping things up. The later verb emphasized crowding together in disorder, and the noun named the resulting heaps or confused mass.
In context
Start with cords and clutter. Hidden cables, tidy surfaces, and smart storage do more for a room than most people realize.
More examples
- She clears the clutter from her desk before working.
- Unused furniture clutters the hallway.
- Please avoid cluttering the table with empty cups.
Forms
clutter · clutters · cluttered · cluttering
declutter verb — Remove unnecessary things from a space.