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

Prawn and black truffle dumplings are a joy, the shimmering black casings colored with charcoal powder and stuffed with toothsome shrimp. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

With sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline, the bar draws inspiration from Southeast Asian cuisine, featuring dishes such as lobster dumplings, Thai fried chicken and ube flan. — Taryn White, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Fresh yerba mate; Paraguayan sopa, a moist, dense cornbread made with cheese and onions; and vori vori, a rich chicken-and-dumpling soup, are among the highlights. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Coconut and sweet potato soup with cinnamon dumplings and wagyu beef fillets are decorated with edible flowers and foaming sauces—the experience is as much of a feast for the eyes as the tastebuds. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of lump

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for dumpling

• crumpling

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