doll

noun

ˈdäl 

ˈdȯl

1

: a small-scale figure of a human being used especially as a child's plaything

2

a(1)

: a pretty but often empty-headed young woman

(2)

: woman

b

: darling, sweetheart

c

: an attractive person

dollish

ˈdä-lish 

ˈdȯ-

adjective

dollishly adverb

dollishness noun

Synonyms

• action figure
• dolly
• poppet [Midland]
• puppet

Examples of doll in a Sentence

My aunt collects porcelain dolls.

there was a row of dolls along the shelf in the bedroom

Recent Examples on the Web

One exhibition case highlights his use of unusual materials, from a mohawk hat made with Barbie doll legs to a conceptual assemblage of yellowed book pages. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 17 Oct. 2024

The video ended on a lighthearted note with her at an American Girl doll store with her daughter Olympia. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 16 Oct. 2024

In one scene, Mabel shares a sofa with a blond, life-size doll resembling Swift who sports a shirt bearing 87, the number Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, wears when setting records for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. —Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024

And the overriding aesthetic of her home is the dolls that litter every possible surface. —Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from Doll, nickname for Dorothy

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing doll

• Barbie doll
• bobblehead doll
• doll's house
• doll up
• rag doll

Kids Definition

doll

noun

ˈdäl 

ˈdȯl

1

: a small figure of a human being used especially as a child's plaything

2

a

: a pretty young woman

b

: an attractive person