Doll

¹

[dol]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Dorothy.

doll

²

[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

/ 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

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

Nutcracker Soldier dolls are a traditional German Christmas decoration dating back to the 17th Century.

Read more on BBC

Also the homemade Geller Cup, which includes a Troll doll, is a marvelous thing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Keira adds that "they made me play with a doll and criticised me for not making enough eye contact".

Read more on BBC

There are fights over dishes and doll collections, jewelry and paper holiday decorations.

Read more on MarketWatch

There the little rowboats would sit like Russian nesting dolls, until morning came and it was time to fish once more.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• figurine 
• model 
• puppet