dumpling

noun

dump·​ling ˈdəmp-liŋ 

plural dumplings

1

a

: a small mass of dough cooked by boiling or steaming

chicken soup with dumplings

b

: a casing of dough enclosing a typically savory filling (such as meat or seafood) and cooked usually by boiling, steaming, or pan-frying see gyoza, pot sticker, wonton

c

: a usually baked dessert of fruit wrapped in dough

apple dumplings

2

: something soft and rounded like a dumpling

especially : a plump person or animal often of short stature

"I wanted to do it [rowing] because it was something I had never heard of. I was a little dumpling as well. I wanted to lose weight."

—Spencer Turrin, quoted in The Daily Telegraph (England)

Examples of dumpling in a Sentence

We had vegetarian dumplings as an appetizer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Executive Chef Alejandro Munoz and Top Chef winner Kristen Kish have crafted a four-course prix-fixe menu featuring dishes like sourdough, ricotta dumplings, honey roasted duck breast, and fluffy cheesecake. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

But last week, tens of thousands of Chinese university students followed a viral trend, riding bikes for more than five hours through the night to Kaifeng for the ancient capital's famous soup dumplings. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

Xi Home Shoreditch Bringing the flavors of Dalian, Northern China, to Shoreditch, Xi Home is a veritable dumpling paradise. —Lela London, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

These apple dumplings are made with refrigerated crescent roll dough, so this comforting dessert comes together in no time. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of lump

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

dumpling

noun

dump·​ling ˈdəm-pliŋ 

1

: a portion of dough cooked by boiling or steaming

2

: a dessert of fruit baked in biscuit dough