What does "glom" mean?
Clipping of glomerulus.
Glom
/ɡlɒm/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Clipping of glomerulus.
- Grammar: glom is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: align, attach, bag, clutch.
- Useful contrasts: detach, disassociate, disengage.
- Usage evidence: Mac glommed a handful of Bott's hair and ear and twisted it, “Ya be listenin' ta me now that I 'ave yer attention. And ifin ya don't, I'll be obliged ta hack off yer pretty little ear wif me blade. Would ya like that, Mr. Mouth,[…]
How to use "glom"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "glom" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "glom" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "glom" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "glom" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "glom" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "align" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "glom", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Clipping of glomerulus. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, colloquial
- 2 Acronym of girls living off men. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, attributive, neologism, rare, sometimes
Verb
- 1 To take. informal, transitive
"Mac glommed a handful of Bott's hair and ear and twisted it, “Ya be listenin' ta me now that I 'ave yer attention. And ifin ya don't, I'll be obliged ta hack off yer pretty little ear wif me blade. Would ya like that, Mr. Mouth,[…]"
- 2 Alternative form of glaum (“look, stare”). alt-of, alternative, intransitive
"She glommed at herself from every angle that could be achieved by twisting her neck, backing off from the mirror with her hands on her overalled hips and tossing back the tumble of dark curls that, like Birdie's, lay thick and hot[…]"
- 3 seize upon or latch onto something wordnet
- 4 To grab hold of, seize; catch, grab or latch onto. informal, intransitive
"Winslow glommed at once onto the benefits of such an arrangement. “So I would set the terms, conditions, and whatever fee I chose to pay myself?” “You catch on quick!” said the cuddly clerk impishly."
- 5 take by theft wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To clump up, to seize together into a lump or conglomeration. informal, intransitive
"“The oil pan cracked, the engine seized, and the internal parts glommed together.”"
Antonyms
Example
"Mac glommed a handful of Bott's hair and ear and twisted it, “Ya be listenin' ta me now that I 'ave yer attention. And ifin ya don't, I'll be obliged ta hack off yer pretty little ear wif me blade. Would ya like that, Mr. Mouth,[…]"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "glom"?
Common synonyms include: align, attach, bag, clutch, co-opt, cop.
How do you use "glom" in a sentence?
Mac glommed a handful of Bott's hair and ear and twisted it, “Ya be listenin' ta me now that I 'ave yer attention. And ifin ya don't, I'll be obliged ta hack off yer pretty little ear wif me blade. Would ya like that, Mr. Mouth,[…]
How do you pronounce "glom"?
Pronounced /ɡlɒm/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Scottish English glom, glaum (“to grab or snatch at”), a variant of clam, claum (“to clutch, seize, grasp, reach for”), from Middle English *clammen, from Old English clæmman (“to pinch, press, inclose”), from Proto-West Germanic *klammjan. Related to clamp.
Etymology 2
Variant of glaum, gloom (“to frown, scowl, stare at”).