Lumpy
'lʌmpi
Definitions
Having or covered with lumps; not smooth.
'lʌmpi
Having lumps; not smooth.
The dough was lumpy, so I had to knead it more.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite mashed potatoes. If they have little bumps and are not completely smooth, they're lumpy! It's like when your sweater has those little balls of fuzz.
👶 For kids: When something is lumpy, it has little bumps on it, like when you don't stir your pudding well.
More Examples
The soup had a lumpy texture, which made it difficult to eat.
She used a special tool to remove the lumpy parts from the wall before painting it.
How It's Used
"The gravy was lumpy because the flour wasn't mixed in properly."
"The doctor felt a lumpy mass during the examination."
"The old mattress was lumpy and uncomfortable."
From "lump" + "-y". "Lump" originates from Middle English "lumpe", likely of Scandinavian origin. The suffix "-y" indicates 'characterized by' or 'having the quality of'.
The word "lumpy" has been used since the late 17th century to describe things with bumps or irregularities.
Memory tip
Think of mashed potatoes with un-mashed bits.
Word Origin
"A small mass or piece; a bump."