noun / verb

lump

LUMP/lʌmp/

An undifferentiated compact mass with an irregular shape.

A small lump of brown clay rests on a white surface.

A single small, irregular lump of brown clay resting on a plain white surface, its uneven outline and solid volume clearly visible.

Etymology

The earliest recorded meaning already describes a small, irregular solid mass. Its deeper origin is unknown, so the evidence supports continuity of meaning rather than a recoverable root image.

In context

Before The Bank0:07

someone placed a small lump of pale metal on an anvil, set a die over it, and struck it with a hammer.

The First Coin: How a Tiny Stamp Changed the World

More examples

Stir the batter until no lumps remain.
She feels a tender lump under her skin.
The report lumps several different problems together.

Forms

lump · lumps · lumped · lumping

lumpy adjective — Containing lumps or having an uneven surface.

Similar words

clump: Usually emphasizes smaller pieces gathered or stuck together.
chunk: Usually suggests a thick piece cut or broken from something.