/ klʌmp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a small group of things or people very close together, especially trees or plants; a bunch of sth such as grass or hair :
a clump of trees / bushes
2.
the sound made by sb putting their feet down very heavily
■ verb
1.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] ( especially BrE ) to put your feet down noisily and heavily as you walk :
The children clumped down the stairs.
2.
clump (together) | clump A and B (together) to come together or be brought together to form a tight group :
[ v ]
Galaxies tend to clump together in clusters.
[also vn ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting a heap or lump): partly imitative, reinforced by Middle Low German klumpe and Middle Dutch klompe ; related to club to hit someone with a stick or heavy object .