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

Its breakfast buffet has live cooking stations, complete with an area to watch handmade dumplings rolled a la minute. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026

Back in May, a mom warned others in a local Facebook group that her daughter’s friend’s squishy toy in the shape of a dumpling exploded after it was left in the car. —Drew Pittock, USA Today, 16 June 2026

There are handmade dumplings like pork, chicken or eggplant bao, and chicken siu mai, plus noodle dishes. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

Equally strong were delicate fish dumplings resembling oversized tortellini, served beneath a bright curry sauce. —Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 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