lumplike

Lumplike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles a lump: typically a rounded, irregular mass or protuberance. It emphasizes a soft, bulky, or bulging form rather than a sharp edge.

The term is formed from the noun lump plus the suffix -like, and is often treated as a variant spelling of lump-like. In usage, lumplike and lumplike are largely interchangeable, though lumplike may appear more frequently in less formal writing.

Geology uses lumplike to describe nodules and rounded masses such as concretionary forms and fossilized indicators. In biology, lumplike can describe nodular lesions or tumor masses with a bulbous, rounded contour. In art and design, lumplike forms describe soft, organic volumes in sculpture or architecture.

Examples: The coral reef displayed lumplike projections along its ridges. The vase featured a lumplike, bulging silhouette that suggested an organic shell.

See also lump, nodular, bulge, irregular.