noun
lump
luhmp
noun
1
A solid piece or mass of something without a definite shape.
"She added a lump of butter to the pan."
2
A swelling or growth felt under the skin.
"The doctor asked her to describe the lump she'd found."
verb
1
To group different things together as if they were the same, without much care for their differences.
"It's unfair to lump all the applicants together like that."
How to Use Lump
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shapeless chunk of something, a bodily swelling, or (as a verb) grouping things together carelessly.
Common mistake
A "lump" under the skin should always be mentioned to a doctor — in casual usage it's neutral, but people often use it specifically to describe something worth checking medically.
Common pairings
lump of sugar
lump sum
lump together
a lump in your throat
Word Forms
lumped past tense, lumps plural, lumps singular
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She added a _____ of butter to the pan.
Etymology
From Middle English lumpe, from a Germanic root related to words for something loose or hanging — compare German Lumpen, "rag."