Word
dumpling
US/ˈdəmpɫɪŋ/
UK/dˈʌmplɪŋ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small ball of soft dough that you boil, steam or fry, often with meat or vegetables inside.
n. a small ball or parcel of dough, often filled with meat, vegetables or sweet filling, cooked by boiling, steaming or frying.
Examples
“She makes fresh dumplings every Sunday afternoon.”
“He orders pork dumplings with soy sauce whenever he visits the small restaurant downtown.”
“The steaming basket of shrimp dumplings arrived at the table, their thin skins almost translucent in the restaurant light.”
Examples
simple
“She makes fresh dumplings every Sunday afternoon.”
contextual
“He orders pork dumplings with soy sauce whenever he visits the small restaurant downtown.”
complex
“The steaming basket of shrimp dumplings arrived at the table, their thin skins almost translucent in the restaurant light.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dumpling” in context.
Verb
01. boil dumpling
“Boil the dumplings for five minutes until they float.”
verb + noun
02. dip dumpling
“You can dip the dumpling in chilli oil for extra flavour.”
verb + noun
03. dumpling breaks
“Be careful, the dumpling breaks easily if you overcook it.”
noun + verb
04. dumpling floats
“The dumpling floats to the top when it is fully cooked.”
noun + verb
05. dumpling sticks
“The dumpling sticks to the pan if you do not use enough oil.”
noun + verb
06. fold dumpling
“My mother taught me how to fold dumplings without breaking them.”
verb + noun
Noun
07. basket of dumpling
“We ordered a small bamboo basket of dumplings to share.”
noun + prep + noun
08. dumpling filling
“The dumpling filling is made with pork, cabbage and garlic.”
noun + noun
09. dumpling wrapper
“Roll the dumpling wrapper thin so it cooks quickly.”
noun + noun
10. a basket of steamed dumplings
“We ordered a basket of steamed dumplings to start the meal.”
11. a plate of fried dumplings
“She brought out a plate of fried dumplings for the guests.”
12. dip the dumpling in sauce
“Dip the dumpling in sauce before you eat it.”
Real-World Examples
“Dumplings, which consist of dough wrapped around meat or fish that are then boiled, fried or steamed, are a staple Chinese dish and are also a central meal for the Lunar New Year holiday.” “Typically, these dumplings are stuffed with a blend of raw ground beef and pork, seasoned with herbs and spices, then boiled and served piping hot in large platters.” Etymology
A folk word, first attested in c. 1600s, apparently from a Norfolk (East Anglian) dialect, of uncertain origin: * perhaps from some Low German word (compare dümpeln (“bobbing up and down”)), * or from the rare dialectal adjective dump (“lump, of the consistency of dough”) (first attested in the late 1800s), + -ling (diminutive suffix), although dumpling is recorded much earlier. However, compare dumpy (“short and stout”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/dumpling