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

Sonny Angels, the little collectible dolls popping up on his Instagram feed, looked like babies with whimsical hats in the shape of fruits and animals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Law enforcement determined there wasn’t indecent exposure since the dolls’ bodies lacked certain parts, but organizers put shirts on them for good measure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Top Toy’s planned listing comes hot on the heels of the global frenzy over Labubu dolls made by Pop Mart International.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To the side lay a stuffed panda doll, dusty and discarded on what remained of a kitchen counter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then the punchline: "But I'm immortal now, baby doll."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• figurine 
• model 
• puppet