clot

[ klot ]

noun

1. a mass or lump.
2. a semisolid mass, as of coagulated blood.
3. a small compact group of individuals:

   a clot of sightseers massed at the entrance.

4. British Informal. blockhead, dolt, clod.

verb (used without object)

clotted, clotting.

1. to form into clots; coagulate.

verb (used with object)

clotted, clotting.

1. to cause to clot.
2. to cover with clots:

   Carefully aimed snowballs clotted the house.

3. to cause to become blocked or obscured:

   to clot the book's narrative with too many characters.

clot

/ klɒt /

noun

1. a soft thick lump or mass

   a clot of blood

2. informal.
   a stupid person; fool

verb

1. to form or cause to form into a soft thick lump or lumps

clot

/ klŏt /

1. A soft insoluble mass formed when blood or lymph gels. During blood clotting, white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and various clotting factors interact in a cascade of chemical reactions initiated by a wound. When a body tissue is injured, calcium ions and platelets act on prothrombin to produce the enzyme thrombin. Thrombin then catalyzes the conversion of the protein fibrinogen into fibrin, a fibrous protein that holds the clot together. An abnormal clot inside the blood vessels or the heart (a thrombus or an embolus ) can obstruct blood flow.

Derived Forms

• ˈclottish, adjective

Other Words From

• de·clot verb declotted declotting
• non·clotting adjective
• un·clotted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of clot¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English clott lump; cognate with Middle Dutch klotte, German Klotz block, log ( klutz )

Word History and Origins

Origin of clot¹

Old English clott, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch klotte block, lump

Example Sentences

A clot had disrupted the blood flow to her spinal cord.

From BBC

Researchers at Uppsala University have analysed the effects of seven different hormone treatments for menopausal symptoms on the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack.

From Science Daily

More than 3,500 victims of the scandal were NHS patients with the blood disorder haemophilia, they were infected after being given a contaminated clotting agent.

From BBC

When the couple reached the hospital, Becky was rushed into surgery with blood clots while Noah was taken to intensive care.

From BBC

Fady Haddad, the university’s head of vascular surgery, and his team painstakingly repaired and reconnected the damaged blood vessels, but 48 hours later, they had inexplicably clotted and failed.

From New York Times

Related Words

• congeal
• curdle
• thicken