lump

1 of 4

noun

1
: a piece or mass of indefinite size and shape
a lump of coal
a lump of clay
2
a
: aggregate, totality
taken in the lump
b
: majority
few candidates ever started with such a lump who did not get the nominationR. L. Strout
3
: protuberance
especially : an abnormal swelling
came to with nothing more than a lump on his head
4
: a person who is heavy and awkward
a lump of a man
also : one who is stupid or dull
5
lumps plural
a
: beatings, bruises
had taken a lot of lumps growing up in the city
b
: defeat, loss
can cheerfully take his lumps on losers, because the payout is big on the winnersMartin Mayer

lump

2 of 4

verb (1)

lumped; lumping; lumps

transitive verb

1
: to group indiscriminately
2
: to make into lumps
also : to make lumps on or in
3
: to move noisily and clumsily

intransitive verb

1
: to become formed into lumps
2
: to move oneself noisily and clumsily

lump

3 of 4

adjective

: not divided into parts : entire
a lump sum

lump

4 of 4

verb (2)

lumped; lumping; lumps

transitive verb

: to put up with
like it or lump it
Phrases
lump in one's throat
: a constriction of the throat caused by emotion

Examples of lump in a Sentence

Noun turning a lump of clay into a beautiful pot He got a lump on his head after bumping into the doorway. Verb (1) when we lumped all of our pocket change together, we found that we had just enough a buy a carton of ice cream while I was on crutches, I was lumping about the house like an elephant
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Enter a former Banning junior varsity coach, Malcolm Manuel, who took his lumps when going 2-9 in 2021 (including a 49-0 loss to San Pedro) and 6-7 in 2022 (including a 46-7 loss to Carson). Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024 The Olympic champion discovered a lump in her neck back in May and went straight to her doctor, who ordered her to get an MRI scan to check the lump out. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Even though they’re lumped together in the same app, Black Ops and Modern Warfare are vastly different games — despite what some fans may suggest. Cade Onder, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024 As this segment continues to grow, pay close attention to the fine details and craft campaigns that speak to this group rather than lumping them into the larger Hispanic market. Manuel MacHado, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Choose from two of the following: Premium choice chateaubriand cut filet mignon, lump crab cakes, and Chilean sea bass cakes, whipped potatoes with rosemary, asparagus with red peppers and sea salt butter, and eight chocolate dipped strawberries. Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 6 May 2024 The Malaysian government has offered monthly assistance to the unemployed and lump payments to workers in certain sectors. Matt Apuzzo, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2020 See all Example Sentences for lump 

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb (1), and Adjective

Middle English

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1624, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lump was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lump

Cite this Entry

“Lump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lump. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

lump

1 of 3 noun
1
: a small uneven mass
2
: a collection or sum of units or parts : total
taken in the lump
3
: an abnormal swelling or growth

lump

2 of 3 adjective
: not divided into parts : whole
a lump sum

lump

3 of 3 verb
1
: to group together
2
: to move noisily and clumsily
3
: to form into a lump

Medical Definition

lump

noun
1
: a piece or mass of indefinite size and shape
2
: an abnormal mass or swelling
presenting as a neck lump

More from Merriam-Webster on lump

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