lumpy

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlʌm.pi/ UK /ˈlʌm.pi/ See IPA manual

Freq #17648

Meanings

1

adj
filled or covered with lumps; uneven rather than smooth

The sauce remained lumpy even after several minutes of stirring.
2

adj
heavy, awkward, or clumsy in appearance, movement, or style

The actor crossed the stage with a lumpy, ungraceful gait.
3

adj
rough with many short, irregular waves

A lumpy sea made the small fishing boat pitch sharply.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · filled or covered with... clumpyuneven bumpy

2 adj · heavy, awkward, or clumsy... heavy clumsy ungainly

3 adj · rough with many short,... choppy rough

Opposites

smooth even graceful

Word family

Forms lumpily

Derived forms lumpilylumpiness

Related forms lumpclumpybumpy chunky

Etymology

Formed in the early eighteenth century from lump + the adjectival suffix -y. The earliest literal senses describe a surface or substance containing irregular masses. The shape suggested later senses for heavy or awkward movement and style, while rough water was likened to a surface broken into small lumps.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# lumpy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈlʌm.pi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlʌm.pi/
**Frequency rank:** 17648

## Meanings
1. filled or covered with lumps; uneven rather than smooth
2. heavy, awkward, or clumsy in appearance, movement, or style
3. rough with many short, irregular waves

## Examples
- The sauce remained lumpy even after several minutes of stirring.
- The actor crossed the stage with a lumpy, ungraceful gait.
- A lumpy sea made the small fishing boat pitch sharply.

## Synonyms
- clumpy
- uneven
- bumpy
- heavy
- clumsy
- choppy

## Antonyms
- smooth
- even
- graceful

## Derived Forms
- lumpily
- lumpiness

## Related Forms
- lump
- clumpy
- bumpy
- chunky

## Etymology
Formed in the early eighteenth century from lump + the adjectival suffix -y. The earliest literal senses describe a surface or substance containing irregular masses. The shape suggested later senses for heavy or awkward movement and style, while rough water was likened to a surface broken into small lumps.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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