dim sum

American  

[dim-suhm] / ˈdɪmˈsʌm /

Or dimsum

noun

Chinese Cooking.

1. small dumplings, usually steamed or fried and filled with meat, seafood, vegetables, condiments, etc.

2. a traditional light meal or dish consisting of these dumplings or other small items of savory or sweet food.

   an assortment of dim sum, which included shrimp dumplings, spring rolls, and steamed pork ribs.

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dim sum British  

/ ˈdɪm ˈsʌm /

noun

1. a Chinese appetizer of steamed dumplings containing various fillings

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Etymology

Origin of dim sum

First recorded in 1965–70; from Chinese dialect (Guangdong) dím sàm, equivalent to Chinese diǎnxīn ( diǎn “dot, speck” + xīn “heart”)

Example Sentences

Dim sum on weekdays ends at 11 a.m. and that’s that.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2022

Dim sum — which literally means to lightly touch the heart — is dian xin in Mandarin.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2022

Prices: Dim sum $6 to $16, main courses $14 to $36.

From Washington Post • Mar. 28, 2017

Dim sum and lunch specials are available until 3 p.m.

From New York Times • May 7, 2016

Dim sum ladies wheel silver carts of small platters up to them, and everyone points to what they want.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio