clod

noun

ˈkläd 

1

a

: a lump or mass especially of earth or clay

b

: soil, earth

2

: oaf, dolt

cloddish

ˈklä-dish 

adjective

cloddishness noun

cloddy

ˈklä-dē 

adjective

Synonyms

• clodhopper
• gawk
• hulk
• lout
• lubber
• lug
• lump
• Neanderthal
• oaf
• palooka

Examples of clod in a Sentence

Her husband's such a clod.

despite his imposing size, he's no simple clod

Recent Examples on the Web

Her Protestant army is causing all kinds of issues, including throwing a dirt clod at Anjou. —Alice Burton, Vulture, 26 July 2024

The machine momentarily pitched forward, straining to loosen it from the ground — and then the electric motor heaved the boulder and a clod of dirt into the air in a puff of dust. —Nicolás Rivero, Washington Post, 17 June 2024

Canes lay in piles on their sides, ready for the volunteers to knock off dirt clods that otherwise would keep them from drying out, leaving them as a possible threat with the next flood. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024

The drift that had formed against the glass crumbled into a pile of fluffy clods. —Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clodde, from Old English clod- (in clodhamer fieldfare)

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

clod

noun

ˈkläd 

1

: a lump or mass especially of earth or clay

2

: a person who is dull or not sensitive : oaf

cloddish

ˈkläd-ish 

adjective

cloddy

ˈkläd-ē 

adjective