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

The dumplings are said to resonate with teens especially. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026

Avoid curing acorn, delicata, or sweet dumpling squash, as this can actually shorten their shelf life. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026

The chef has included a number of dishes meant to be shared, such as gyoza, popular Japanese dumplings. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025

Place the dumplings in the prepared steamer basket without touching. —Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of lump

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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