Clotted describes something that has formed into thick lumps or clumps. When blood dries on a scraped knee, it becomes clotted as it hardens into a scab. When cream sits undisturbed for a long time, it can become clotted instead of smooth and pourable.

The word comes from “clot,” which means a thick mass of coagulated liquid. You've probably heard of blood clots, which are dangerous blockages that can form inside blood vessels. But clotting isn't always bad: when you cut yourself, your blood clots at the wound to stop the bleeding and begin healing.

In cooking, clotted cream is a thick, rich dairy product popular in England, made by heating cream until it forms a thick layer. People spread it on scones with jam for a traditional treat called cream tea.

The word can describe any liquid that has thickened into lumps: clotted paint in an old can, clotted mud on hiking boots, or clotted sauce that wasn't stirred enough while cooking. When something becomes clotted, it transforms from smooth and flowing to chunky and stuck together.