Doll

¹ American  

[dol] / dɒl /

noun

1. a female given name, form of Dorothy.

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doll ² American  

[dol] / dɒl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of doll

First recorded in 1550–60; generic use of Doll

Example Sentences

The spectacle marked new heights in the global craze around Labubu dolls, created by a Hong Kong artist and sold by Beijing-based toy maker Pop Mart.

From The Wall Street Journal

Forlorn but oddly hopeful, Sally became the film’s most empathetic character, thanks in part to the depth that O’Hara lent to the sort-of animated rag doll.

From Los Angeles Times

Seven new shops for Labubu dolls are to open in the UK this year, following the prime minister's trip to China.

From BBC

The kraken laid her on a piece of driftwood, as carefully as a child laying down a doll.

From Literature

She has black hair, moon-pale skin, and eyes so large they give the appearance of a doll, the kind that never blinks.

From Literature

Related Words

• figurine
• model
• puppet