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. Informal.
   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

Derived Forms

• ˈdollishly, adverb
• ˈdollishness, noun
• ˈdollish, adjective

Other Words From

• doll·ish doll-like adjective
• doll·ish·ly adverb
• doll·ish·ness noun

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

There are paintings, dolls and ceramic figures, each with its own expression — smiling, laughing, smirking, weeping or silently shrieking.

From Los Angeles Times

“I never handled Stanley,” says Vitali, who in some scenes sits with a Kubrick plush doll next to him.

From New York Times

She was, in her own words, treated “like a rag doll, like a garbage bag“.

From BBC

And so it does — Jean is anonymously sent a doll with the word “sinner” scrawled across it in red marker.

From New York Times

Mattel apologizes and pulls its line of ‘Wicked’-themed dolls from stores after misprinting its website link, sending consumers to an adult film site.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• figurine
• model
• puppet