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

At the time, Pierce and his wife, Hilda, ran a restaurant called H&H, selling chicken feet with dumplings. — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

One of my favorite ways to use the leftover chicken and stock is to make chicken and dumplings. — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 6 July 2026

The savory dumplings can be boiled, sautéed, or topped with onions and sour cream for extra flavor. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 28 June 2026

Start your meal with one of the mango lassis (the perfect way to cool down in the summer) before feasting on dishes like the tandoori lamb or momo, traditional Tibetan dumplings. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 28 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