English Reference

Word

clot

US/ˈkɫɑt/

UK/klˈɒt/

Definition

n. a thick, sticky lump that forms when a liquid like blood or milk becomes solid. You usually see this when you get a cut and the blood stops flowing.

n. a semi-solid mass formed by the coagulation of a liquid, particularly blood or milk. In a medical context, it refers to a thrombus that can obstruct blood flow.

Examples

“The blood formed a clot to stop the bleeding.”

“Doctors are monitoring the patient to ensure that no blood clot moves toward the lungs after surgery.”

“While the formation of a clot is a vital response to vascular injury, pathological coagulation within the arteries can lead to severe complications such as a stroke or myocardial infarction.”

Examples

simple

“The blood formed a clot to stop the bleeding.”

contextual

“Doctors are monitoring the patient to ensure that no blood clot moves toward the lungs after surgery.”

complex

“While the formation of a clot is a vital response to vascular injury, pathological coagulation within the arteries can lead to severe complications such as a stroke or myocardial infarction.”

Usage

Often used with the verb 'form' or 'dissolve'.

Real-World Examples

“People with hemophilia don't make much of several blood clotting factors, such as factor VIII and factor IX.”
WebMD · 28 Sept 2024

Etymology

From Middle English clot, clotte, from Old English clott, from Proto-West Germanic *klott (“lump”). Cognate with German Klotz (“block”). Doublet of clod and klutz.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/clot

English Reference