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

Then there’s the Taiwanese-ish beef noodle soup, dumplings, truffle French fries, and a few other offerings that can only be described as Angeleno creations. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Served in a rich gravy over cassava dumplings, the latter was hard not to order every time. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

My friend told me their soup dumplings are better than Din Tai Fung’s. — Irene Kim, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026

Sundays are reserved for manti—delicate lamb dumplings served with garlicky yoghurt and a hint of sumac—a dish that is always a hit with a loyal crowd of regulars. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 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