clump
clump — noun
- clumpsingular
- clumpsplural
1. a small collection of plants, bushes, or trees that grow very near each other in
a small collection of plants, bushes, or trees that grow very near each other in one spot
A small clump of wild daffodils grew beside Indra's mailbox.
a clump of + plant name
Lan planted a clump of lavender near the back door.
Nora noticed a dense clump of bamboo at the edge of the park.
The hikers stopped to rest under a clump of tall oak trees.
文法句型
a clump of [plants/trees]
2. a thick, compact piece of a soft substance such as earth, mud, or clay
a thick, compact piece of a soft substance such as earth, mud, or clay
Asher broke off a clump of damp soil with his gardening tools.
a clump of + substance (soil/earth)
Mia found a sticky clump of chewing gum under her desk.
The vet removed a clump of matted fur from the old cat's back.
A clump of wet clay fell off Quinn's boot as she walked inside.
文法句型
a clump of [substance]
3. a low, heavy noise made when a person puts their feet down firmly while walking,
a low, heavy noise made when a person puts their feet down firmly while walking, usually wearing large or hard shoes
We heard the heavy clump of boots in the hallway.
the heavy clump of + footwear
A steady clump came from the attic as the repairman moved around.
Tamar's heart raced at the loud clump on the wooden stairs.
The only sound was the dull clump of soldiers marching on the dusty road.
文法句型
the clump of [footsteps/boots]
用法筆記
Usually singular and used with a definite article (the clump) or an adjective, rather than with numbers.
clump — verb
- clumppresent simple I / you / we / they
- clumps3rd person singular
- clumping-ing form
- clumpedpast simple
1. to move your feet deliberately and heavily against the ground as you walk, often
to move your feet deliberately and heavily against the ground as you walk, often because your shoes or boots are large and hard
Vivek clumped across the wooden floor in his work boots.
clump across [surface]
Shirin clumped down the stairs still half asleep.
clump down [stairs]
The children clumped through the mud in their rain boots.
Sofia clumped noisily into the kitchen shaking snow off her coat.
- tiptoe
to walk quietly and lightly on the toes
文法句型
clump + adverb/preposition (across, down, through, into)
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a preposition or adverb indicating direction (across, down, through, into). Unlike the noun sense 3, this verb focuses on the action of walking, not just the sound.
常見錯誤
2. to gather or collect in a small, tight group, or to arrange separate items into
to gather or collect in a small, tight group, or to arrange separate items into such groups
The young trees clumped together near the riverbank.
clump together (intransitive, natural grouping)
Small mushrooms clumped around the base of the old oak stump.
Hyun clumped the recycling into piles of paper, plastic, and glass.
The sheep clumped together in the corner of the field during the storm.
Soraya clumped the family photos by year and stored them in separate boxes.
文法句型
clump together
clump around something
clump [things] into [groups]
用法筆記
Can be used intransitively (things clump together on their own) or transitively (a person clumps things into groups). The transitive use is slightly more informal.