puddle

noun pud·dle \ ˈpə-dᵊl \

|Updated on: 5 Jun 2018

Definition of puddle

1 : a very small pool of usually dirty or muddy water

2 a : an earthy mixture (as of clay, sand, and gravel) worked while wet into a compact mass that becomes impervious to water when dry

b : a thin mixture of soil and water for puddling plants

See puddle defined for English-language learners

See puddle defined for kids

Examples of puddle in a Sentence

She accidentally stepped in a puddle and got her shoes wet.
After the storm, the road was covered in deep puddles.

Recent Examples of puddle from the Web

The beads puddle and pool over the grains of warmed concrete while the secrets flee a widened orifice in the face.

— david roderick, San Francisco Chronicle, "State Lines: Joseph Rios’ ‘Nocturnes’," 30 May 2018
Judith Newman wrote in The New York Times in February 2017 that the political morass following the 2016 presidential election explained why Americans had latched onto hygge—or cuddle puddles with snacks and good lighting.

— laura norkin, Glamour, "‘Päntsdrunk’ Is the Scandinavian Wellness Trend We Need Right Now," 29 May 2018
With highs anticipated to be in the 80s and 90s over the Memorial Day weekend, Chicagoans could soon be swatting away the suckers, as mosquito eggs laid in street catch basins and puddles hatch as the days warm.

— tessa weinberg, chicagotribune.com, "Let the swatting begin: Mosquito season kicks off after cool, wet spring," 25 May 2018
Several of them slipped in a puddle of hand sanitizer that had spilled in the chaos.

— leila atassi, cleveland.com, "Why it 'takes a village' to get 8-year-old King Korper the help he needs: A Greater Cleveland," 19 Feb. 2018
The stark and persistent danger of the rain is perhaps best communicated when, six years after the initial downpour, Rasmus steps into a puddle.

— refinery29.com, "This Is How The Deadly Rain Wiped Out Everyone On The Rain," 4 May 2018
Video footage on social media reportedly shows a man in a puddle before another man wrapped a rope around his neck and dragged him as onlookers watched.

— casey quackenbush, Time, "A Judge Has Ordered Arrests Over Killing of a Canadian in the Peruvian Amazon," 24 Apr. 2018
Kids can run under waterfalls, go down a short waterslide and jump in puddles.

— jennifer mcclellan, azcentral, "Phoenix Zoo: What to know before you go. A helpful guide for families planning to visit," 11 Apr. 2018
Who knows: With the right footwear, puddle-jumping can become an enjoyable pastime.

— rachel waldman, Vogue, "April Showers Bring The Chicest Storm-Ready Staples," 30 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of puddle

Middle English podel; akin to Low German pudel puddle, Old English pudd ditch

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

puddle Synonyms

Synonyms

pool, well;

Related Words

basin, hole, sinkhole;

swimming pool;

lake, pond, water hole;

puddle

verb

Definition of puddle

puddled; puddling play \ˈpəd-liŋ, ˈpə-dᵊl-iŋ\

intransitive verb

: to dabble or wade around in a puddle

transitive verb

1 : to make muddy or turbid : muddle

2 a : to work (a wet mixture of earth or concrete) into a dense impervious mass

b : to subject (iron) to the process of puddling

3 a : to strew with puddles

b : to compact (soil) especially by working when too wet

c : to dip the roots of (a plant) in a thin mud before transplanting

—

puddler

play \ˈpəd-lər, ˈpə-dᵊl-ər\ noun

Recent Examples of puddle from the Web

Believe it or not, the company drew more clients on that infamous October night in 2008 when the Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays kept playing Game 5 of the World Series despite heavy rain and puddling on the infield.

— bob brookover, Philly.com, "Phillies to play at 12:05 today, if rain stops | Extra Innings," 16 May 2018
Rainwater was puddling deeply on the playing surface as the Kiwis did their dance.

— alan dymock, CNN, "From Fiji to fancy dress, how rugby fell in love with the Hong Kong Sevens," 6 Apr. 2018
The steel balconies seemed to sway with the movement of bodies; beer puddled on the floor near the stage where fans were packed tight.

— cathy applefeld olson, Billboard, "Foo Fighters Christen D.C.'s Newest Venue With Anthemic Hits," 13 Oct. 2017
The cratered outfield grass that puddled at the lightest spring rains has been uprooted.

— aaron randle, kansascity, "Cutting-edge baseball academy about to open at 18th & Vine, but who will come play?," 26 Oct. 2017
There is, however, no runoff, as the spray was more like a mist that occasionally made a rainbow and left sidewalks wet, but not puddled.

— gary warth, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Power-washing a dirty job, but could say lives in hep A outbreak," 29 Sep. 2017
Small shouldered jackets and coats sliced up the spine for movement were paired with hip-slung trousers, puddling at the ankles, and macramé vests trailing strands of fringe (weirdly, macramé is sort of a thing this season).

— vanessa friedman, New York Times, "Debuts at Jil Sander and Roberto Cavalli," 24 Sep. 2017
Police found Tice dead on the floor in his home office, blood puddled around his head.

— the denver post, The Mercury News, "California yoga mogul’s mysterious death: Trevor Tice’s drunken last hours detailed," 27 Jan. 2017
Police found Tice dead on the floor in his home office, blood puddled around his head.

— the denver post, The Mercury News, "California yoga mogul’s mysterious death: Trevor Tice’s drunken last hours detailed," 27 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of puddle

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

PUDDLE Defined for English Language Learners

puddle

noun

Definition of puddle for English Language Learners

: a small amount of water, mud, etc., on the ground

PUDDLE Defined for Kids

puddle

noun pud·dle \ ˈpə-dᵊl \

Definition of puddle for Students

: a very small pool of liquid

Learn More about puddle

See words that rhyme with puddle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for puddle Spanish Central: Translation of puddle Nglish: Translation of puddle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of puddle for Arabic speakers

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puddle

Definition of puddle

Examples of puddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of puddle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of puddle

puddle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

puddle

Definition of puddle

puddler

Recent Examples of puddle from the Web

First Known Use of puddle

PUDDLE Defined for English Language Learners

puddle

Definition of puddle for English Language Learners

PUDDLE Defined for Kids

puddle

Definition of puddle for Students

Learn More about puddle

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