Word
dimple
Phoneticsdim·ple
US/ˈdɪmpəɫ/
UK/dˈɪmpəl/
Definitions
01on the face
n. a small hollow place on your skin, especially on your cheek when you smile.
n. a small natural indentation in the flesh, typically on the cheek or chin, that becomes visible when a person smiles.
“The little girl had a deep dimple in her right cheek whenever she laughed.”
“Geneticists often describe the presence of facial dimples as a dominant trait, though their appearance can vary significantly between individuals.”
02on a surface
n. a small dent or hollow in the surface of an object.
n. a slight depression or indentation in the surface of an object, whether functional or accidental.
“The dimples on a golf ball help it fly further through the air.”
“Aerodynamic engineers carefully calculate the depth and distribution of dimples on the surface to reduce drag and improve lift.”
Technical
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to form small dents
v. to produce small, shallow holes or curves in a surface.
v. to produce or mark with small indentations; can be used transitively or intransitively.
“A light rain began to dimple the surface of the calm lake.”
“The sudden breeze dimpled the water's surface, breaking the perfect reflection of the surrounding mountains.”
Literary
Usage
Often used in a literary context to describe water or soft materials.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English dimpel, dimpil, dympull, from Old English dympel, from Proto-West Germanic dumpil, from Proto-Germanic dumpilaz (“sink-hole, dimple”), from Proto-Germanic dumpaz (“hole, hollow, pit”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewb- (“deep, hollow”), equivalent to dialectal dump (“deep hole or pool”) + -le (diminutive suffix). Akin to German Low German Dümpel, German Tümpel (“pond, pool”). Related also to Old English dyppan (“to dip”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dimple