dolly

noun

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dol·ly | \ ˈdä-lē

, ˈdȯ-lē \

plural dollies

Definition of dolly

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : doll

2 : a wooden-pronged instrument for beating and stirring clothes in the process of washing them in a tub

3 : a compact narrow-gauge railroad locomotive for moving construction trains and for switching

4a : a platform on a roller or on wheels or casters for moving heavy objects

b : a wheeled platform for a television or motion-picture camera

dolly

verb

dollied; dollying

Definition of dolly (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to treat with a dolly

2 : to move or convey on a dolly

intransitive verb

: to move a motion-picture or television camera about on a dolly while shooting a scene also, of a camera : to be moved on a dolly

Synonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing dolly Learn More About dolly

Examples of dolly in a Sentence

Noun We'll need a dolly to move the refrigerator. my kid sister was always playing with her dollies

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Once inside the store, the men used a dolly to load an ATM into their truck, which troopers described in an online statement as a two-tone blue F-150 vehicle. — Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2022 Plano Police are searching for a burglar who cut the lock on a storage room at a facility in the 500 block of North Avenue and used a dolly to cart away several items inside. — Teri Webster, Dallas News, 26 July 2021 Her body sways backward and forward like a rocking horse being pulled along on a dolly. — Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2020 All day, motorcycle deliverymen handed off items to the security guards, who trundled through the compound’s grounds with dollies and shopping carts, dropping off boxes and bags. — Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2020 Neewer dolly For smooth, sideways motion—or to move a shot closer or further from without a zoom lens—get a dolly. — Billy Cadden, Popular Science, 19 Nov. 2019 Sets already have ramps for wheeled dollies, and they can easily be added in front of portable bathrooms and other elevated areas as well. — Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Oct. 2019 The dolly allows you to stretch and strengthen all four abdominal muscles while simultaneously training your upper and lower body. — NBC News, 16 Jan. 2018 For more than two decades, the factory has seen growth in its business making stainless steel racks, metal dolly carts and display signs, including ones for Volvo (the company has Swedish investment). — David Pierson, latimes.com, 12 July 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dolly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.