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Clump vs Sneak - What's the difference?

clump | sneak |

In transitive terms the difference between clump and sneak

is that clump is to gather into thick groups while sneak is to take something stealthily without permission.

In intransitive terms the difference between clump and sneak

is that clump is to walk with heavy footfalls while sneak is (informal, especially with on) To inform an authority about another's misdemeanours; to tell tales; to grass.

As an adjective sneak is

in advance; before release to the general public.

clump

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A cluster or lump; an unshaped piece or mass.
  • A thick group or bunch, especially of bushes or hair.
  • * Hawthorne
    • a clump of shrubby trees
  • A dull thud.
  • The compressed clay of coal strata.

    • Derived terms

    * clumpy

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To form clusters or lumps
  • To gather into thick groups
  • To walk with heavy footfalls.

    • Derived terms

    * clump up

    References

    English onomatopoeias

    sneak

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who sneaks; one who moves stealthily to acquire an item or information.
    • My little brother is such a sneak - yesterday I caught him trying to look through my diary.
  • A cheat; a con artist; a trickster
    • I can't believe I gave that sneak $50 for a ticket when they were selling for $20 at the front gate.
  • An informer; a tell-tale.
  • (obsolete, cricket) A ball bowled so as to roll along the ground; a daisy-cutter

    • Verb

  • To creep or go stealthily; to come or go while trying to avoid detection, as a person who does not wish to be seen.
    • He decided to sneak into the kitchen for a second cookie while his mom was on the phone.
  • To take something stealthily without permission.
    • I went to sneak a chocolate but my dad caught me.
  • (dated) To hide, especially in a mean or cowardly manner.
  • * Wake
    • [Slander] sneaks its head.
  • (informal, especially with on) To inform an authority about another's misdemeanours; to tell tales; to grass.
    • If you sneak on me I'll bash you!

    Usage notes

    * The past and past participle snuck'' is primarily found in North American English, where it originated in the late 19th century as a dialectal form. It is still regarded as informal by some, but its use appears to be increasing in frequency and acceptability. It is occasionally found in British and Australian/Hiberno-English, too, though regarded as an American form. (See Oxford Dictionaries, ''The Cambridge Guide to English Usage'', ''Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary'', ''Webster's New World College Dictionary .) * To sneak'' (take) something is not the same as to ''steal'' something. In this sense, ''sneak'' typically implies trying to avoid a supervisor's or guardian's mild displeasure or mild discipline, while ''steal indicates a more serious action and often the person stealing does not know the owner of the item being stolen.

    Derived terms

    * sneaker * sneaky * sneakily * sneakiness * sneak peek * sneak preview * sneak thief * sneak away * sneak in * sneak off * sneak out * sneak up/sneak up on * sneak around

    Adjective

    (-)
  • In advance; before release to the general public.
    • The company gave us a sneak look at their new electronic devices.
  • In a stealthy or surreptitious manner.
    • I was able to get a sneak peek at the guest list.

    Derived terms

    * sneak peek * sneak preview

    Anagrams

    * * English irregular verbs