Word
dollop
Phoneticsdol·lop, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɑɫəp/
UK/dˈɒləp/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small soft lump of food, like cream, butter, or sauce, that you put on top of something.
n. a small shapeless mass of a soft substance, especially food such as cream, butter, or sauce, placed on top of or beside something.
Examples
“She adds a dollop of cream to her soup.”
“He serves the pie warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.”
“The curry arrived steaming, crowned with a bright dollop of yogurt that slowly melted into the rich sauce.”
Examples
simple
“She adds a dollop of cream to her soup.”
contextual
“He serves the pie warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.”
complex
“The curry arrived steaming, crowned with a bright dollop of yogurt that slowly melted into the rich sauce.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dollop” in context.
Verb
01. add dollop
“Add a dollop of yogurt to cool down the spicy curry.”
verb + noun
02. dollop melts
“The dollop of butter melts slowly into the hot corn.”
noun + verb
03. dollop sits
“A neat dollop of cream sits on top of the tomato soup.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. extra dollop
“The waiter offered an extra dollop of ice cream.”
adj + noun
05. generous dollop
“She added a generous dollop of cream to her strawberries.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. dollop of butter
“Add a dollop of butter to the mashed potatoes.”
noun + prep + noun
07. dollop of cream
“She topped the cake with a dollop of cream.”
noun + prep + noun
08. dollop of sauce
“Serve the fish with a dollop of sauce on the side.”
noun + prep + noun
09. dollop of yogurt
“The curry is finished with a dollop of yogurt.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a generous dollop of butter
“Stir a generous dollop of butter through the hot pasta.”
11. add a dollop of cream
“Add a dollop of cream to the soup just before serving.”
12. finish with a dollop
“Finish the bowl with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'of' plus a noun naming the substance ('a dollop of cream').
Etymology
From earlier East Anglian dialectal dallop (“patch, tuft (of grass, etc.)”), of unknown origin. Compare dialectal Norwegian dolp (“lump”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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