doll

¹

[dol]

noun

1. a small figure representing a baby or other human being, especially for use as a child's toy.

2. a small figure representing a nonhuman character, for use as a toy.

   cartoon character dolls.

3. Slang.

   1. a pretty but expressionless or unintelligent woman.

   2. a girl or woman, especially one who is considered attractive.

   3. a boy or man who is considered attractive.

   4. (sometimes initial capital letter),  an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).

4. Informal.,  a generous or helpful person.

   You're a doll for lending me your car.

5. Slang.,  a barbiturate in pill form.

verb phrase

1. doll up

   1. to dress, groom, or style oneself in an elegant or ostentatiously fashionable manner.

      She got all dolled up for an evening at the opera.

   2. to make more attractive, as by decorating or embellishing.

      The street was dolled up with showy flowers and colorful banners.

Doll

²

[dol]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Dorothy.

doll

/ dɒl /

noun

1. a small model or dummy of a human being, used as a toy

2. slang,  a pretty girl or woman of little intelligence: sometimes used as a term of address

Other Word Forms

• dollishly adverb
• dollishness noun
• dollish adjective
• doll-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of doll¹

First recorded in 1550–60; generic use of Doll

Word History and Origins

Origin of doll¹

C16: probably from Doll, pet name for Dorothy

Example Sentences

The dolls' house was built between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary and designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

From BBC

Queen Camilla will show Melania one of the quirkier items in Windsor, a remarkable dolls' house, made a century ago by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

From BBC

Surprise! dolls, Canadian toy and entertainment company Spin Master and Santa Monica’s Jakks Pacific, a maker of licensed toys such as Sonic the Hedgehog.

From Los Angeles Times

The official cause of death for Dan Rivera, a paranormal investigator who died while handling the allegedly haunted Annabelle doll during a tour in Pennsylvania earlier this year, has been revealed.

From Los Angeles Times

On top of the pay phone perches a nude Barbie doll.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• figurine 
• model 
• puppet