plural dim sums also dim sum
: traditional Chinese food consisting of a variety of items (such as steamed or fried dumplings, pieces of cooked chicken, and rice balls) served in small portions

Examples of dim sum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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From Cantonese dim sum to Sichuan hotpot, Chinese food is deeply embedded in global culinary consciousness, aided by centuries of migration and trade. Chris Reed, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025 There are even more nuanced Chinese dishes, like dan dan noodles and wonton in chili oil highlighting southwestern flavors of Sichuan, beef noodles from the western province of Xi’an, and dim sum from the Guangdong region. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2025 What Are Soup Dumplings Also known as xiao long bao, soup dumplings are a staple of dim sum service and are closely associated with Shanghainese cuisine. Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 20 June 2025 In Eden Prairie, Asia Mall is an exciting mix of East Asian flavors, featuring an expansive grocery store, bubble tea shops, and restaurants specializing in favorites like dim sum, Korean barbecue, and Vietnamese street food. AFAR Media, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dim sum

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) dímsām, from dím dot, speck + sām heart

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dim sum was in 1948

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Cite this Entry

“Dim sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dim%20sum. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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