dipper

noun

dip·​per ˈdi-pər 

1

: one that dips: such as

a

: a worker who dips articles

b

: something (such as a long-handled cup) used for dipping

c

slang : pickpocket

2

: any of a genus (Cinclus and especially C. cinclus of the Old World and C. mexicanus of North America) of birds that comprise an oscine family (Cinclidae) and include individuals that wade and dive into swift mountain streams in search of food

called also water ouzel

3

Dipper : a group of stars that resembles a dipper: such as

a

: big dipper

b

: little dipper

dipperful

ˈdi-pər-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Synonyms of dipper

• spoon

Examples of dipper in a Sentence

the metal dipper left in the stew pot was too hot to touch

Recent Examples on the Web

Serve with baby romaine lettuce leaves, chips, or other dippers of choice. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026

Serve with dippers such as pita bread, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, radishes, and/or and celery. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 16 June 2026

There are plenty of ways to love carrots, whether as crisp dippers with your favorite vegetable dip, shredded in carrot salad, or as a sweetener in carrot cake. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 June 2026

The rest of the constellation — seen beneath the Big Dipper, almost straight up— forms a loose kite shape extending upward from Arcturus. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dipper

• chipper
• clipper
• flipper
• gripper
• kipper
• nipper
• ripper
• shipper
• skipper
• slipper
• stripper
• tipper

Kids Definition

dipper

noun

dip·​per ˈdip-ər 

1

: one that dips

especially : something (as a long-handled cup) used for dipping

2

: any of several birds that dive into streams in search of food

called also water ouzel

3

capitalized

a

: the seven major stars of Ursa Major arranged in a form resembling a dipper

called also Big Dipper

b

: the seven major stars in Ursa Minor similarly arranged with the North Star forming the outer end of the handle

called also Little Dipper

dipperful

-ˌfu̇l 

noun