Lump

As a Noun

1. A small, solid mass or swelling, often irregular in shape.
2. A clump or chunk of a substance, such as sugar or clay.
3. A swelling or abnormal growth on the body.
4. A large amount of something considered as a single unit.

As a Verb

1. To group things together without distinction.
2. To endure something unpleasant without complaint (informal use).
3. To move in a heavy or awkward way.

As Other Form

• Lumpy (Adjective): Full of lumps or uneven in texture.

Word History

The word lump comes from Middle English lumpe, meaning “a small mass.” It has been used for centuries to describe irregularly shaped objects and, later, metaphorical groupings of things or people.

Examples

1. She felt a small lump under her skin and decided to see a doctor. (Noun)
2. He dropped a lump of sugar into his tea. (Noun)
3. The teacher lumped all the students into one group. (Verb)
4. You’ll just have to lump it and accept the decision. (Verb – informal)

Synonyms

Clump, mass, swelling, chunk, bulge

Related Words

Bump, node, aggregate, cluster

Antonyms

Smoothness, separation, flatness