plump

¹

[pluhmp]

adjective

plumper, plumpest 

1. well filled out or rounded in form; somewhat fleshy or fat.

   Synonyms: rotund, portly
   Antonyms: thin

verb (used without object)

1. to become plump (often followed by up orout ).

   Synonyms: fatten

verb (used with object)

1. to make plump (often followed by up orout ).

   to plump up the sofa pillows.

   Synonyms: fatten

plump

²

[pluhmp]

verb (used without object)

1. to drop or fall heavily or suddenly; come down abruptly or with direct impact.

2. Chiefly British.,  to vote exclusively for one candidate in an election, instead of distributing or splitting one's votes among a number.

verb (used with object)

1. to drop or throw heavily or suddenly (often followed bydown ).

   He plumped himself down and fell asleep.

2. to utter or say bluntly (often followed byout ).

   She plumps out the truth at the oddest times.

3. to praise or extol.

   road signs plumping the delights of a new candy bar.

noun

1. a heavy or sudden fall.

2. the sound resulting from such a fall.

adverb

1. with a heavy or sudden fall or drop.

2. directly or bluntly, as in speaking.

3. in a vertical direction; straight down.

4. with sudden encounter.

5. with direct impact.

adjective

1. direct; downright; blunt.

   Days after being accused, they met the charge with a plump denial.

verb phrase

1. plump for,  to support enthusiastically; be wholeheartedly in favor of.

   to plump for a team.

plump

³

[pluhmp]

noun

Chiefly British Dialect.

1. a group or cluster.

2. a flock.

   a plump of ducks.

plump

¹

/ plʌmp /

verb

1. to drop or fall suddenly and heavily

   to plump down on the sofa

2. to give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number

noun

1. a heavy abrupt fall or the sound of this

adverb

1. suddenly or heavily

   he ran plump into the old lady

2. straight down; directly

   the helicopter landed plump in the middle of the field

adjective

1. in a blunt, direct, or decisive manner

plump

²

/ plʌmp /

adjective

1. well filled out or rounded; fleshy or chubby

   a plump turkey

2. bulging, as with contents; full

   a plump wallet

3. (of amounts of money) generous; ample

   a plump cheque

verb

1. to make or become plump

   to plump up a pillow

plump

³

/ plʌmp /

noun

1. archaic,  a group of people, animals, or things; troop; cluster

Other Word Forms

• plumpness noun
• plumply adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plump¹

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier plompe “dull, rude,” from Middle Dutch plomp “blunt, squat”; cognate with Middle Low German plump “uneducated, clumsy”

Origin of plump²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English verb plumpen “to plunge into water, dive,” cognate with Dutch plompen; probably imitative

Origin of plump³

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English plump; origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of plump¹

C14: probably of imitative origin; compare Middle Low German plumpen, Middle Dutch plompen

Origin of plump²

C15 (meaning: dull, rude), C16 (in current senses): perhaps from Middle Dutch plomp dull, blunt

Origin of plump³

C15: of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See stout.

Example Sentences

The setting is a placid pond, on whose banks sits a plump and serene fellow in a kimono, his eyes closed.

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Justice Kennedy might have spared the country a prolonged fit of insanity by plumping the other way in Obergefell and letting voters hash out the issue themselves.

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Cooper, who described herself as "rather plump" as a teenager, worried about disappointing her.

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In short, collagen helps to keep our skin plump, our joints and bones strong, and our hair and nails healthy.

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Lucy Thomas, a 19-year-old student in Glasgow, is one of those younger voters who plumped for Labour last year, but does not support them as much now.

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Related Words

• chunky 
• fleshy 
• pudgy 
• well-fed