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clut·ter

(klŭtər)

1. A confused or disordered state or collection; a jumble: sorted through the clutter in the attic.

2. A confused noise; a clatter.

v. clut·tered, clut·ter·ing, clut·ters

v.tr.

1. To fill or spread over in a disorderly manner: Boxes cluttered the garage.

2. To make disorderly or hard to use by filling or covering with objects: I cluttered up my desk with old memos.

v.intr.

1. To run or move with bustle and confusion.

2. To make a clatter.

[Probably from Middle English cloteren, to clot, from clot, lump, from Old English clott.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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