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 city’s Dumpling Trail has more than 16 dumpling spots, including Jade Seafood Restaurant, which features banquet-style seafood dishes and Cantonese foods served in a polished dining space. —Taryn White, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

So many of my favorites in the city are within the district, like Four Four South Village for Taiwanese beef noodles, Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns and Kung Fu Kitchen for no-frills dumplings and noodles, The Handpulled Noodle for customizable noodle entrees, and Dim Sum Sam for wonton noodle soup. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2025

So, rather than carts, customers will find open windows into the kitchen where employees are hand-rolling dumplings. —Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 12 June 2025

This results in an offbeat menu incorporating everything from Indian pani puri to pork and king-crab soup dumplings to a sweet and sour tangcu take on ossobuco with cheesy grits. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 June 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