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plumper1

[pluhm-per]
noun
  1. an act of falling heavily; a plumping.
  2. Chiefly British. the vote of a person who plumps.
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Origin of plumper1

plump2 + -er1

plumper2

[pluhm-per]
noun
  1. something carried in the mouth to fill out hollow cheeks.
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Origin of plumper2

First recorded in 1755–65; plump1 + -er1

plump1

[pluhmp]
adjective, plump·er, plump·est.
  1. well filled out or rounded in form; somewhat fleshy or fat.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to become plump (often followed by up or out).
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verb (used with object)
  1. to make plump (often followed by up or out): to plump up the sofa pillows.
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Origin of plump1

1475–85; earlier plompe dull, rude < Middle Dutch plomp blunt, not pointed; cognate with Middle Low German plump
Related formsplump·ly, adverbplump·ness, noun

Synonyms

1. portly, round. See stout. 2, 3. fatten.

Antonyms

1. thin.

plump2

[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.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to drop or throw heavily or suddenly (often followed by down): He plumped himself down and fell asleep.
  2. to utter or say bluntly (often followed by out): She plumps out the truth at the oddest times.
  3. to praise or extol: road signs plumping the delights of a new candy bar.
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noun
  1. a heavy or sudden fall.
  2. the sound resulting from such a fall.
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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.
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adjective
  1. direct; downright; blunt.
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Verb Phrases
  1. plump for, to support enthusiastically; be wholeheartedly in favor of: to plump for a team.
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Origin of plump2

1300–50; Middle English plumpen (v.), cognate with Dutch plompen; probably imitative
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

fleshychunkypudgyfullstoutroundfilledbeefyburlybuxomcorpulentobeseportlyrotundtubby

Examples from the Web for plumper

Historical Examples

  • Plumper—if the name on his hat-box is to be believed; A. Plumper, too.

    Fashionable Philosophy

    Laurence Oliphant

  • I am sure he looks very distinguished, though his name is Plumper.

    Fashionable Philosophy

    Laurence Oliphant

  • Flamm seats himself opposite Elaine, and Plumper opposite Adolphus.

    Fashionable Philosophy

    Laurence Oliphant

British Dictionary definitions for plumper

plumper

noun
  1. a pad carried in the mouth by actors to round out the cheeks
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plump1

adjective
  1. well filled out or rounded; fleshy or chubbya plump turkey
  2. bulging, as with contents; fulla plump wallet
  3. (of amounts of money) generous; amplea plump cheque
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verb
  1. (often foll by up or out) to make or become plumpto plump up a pillow
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Derived Formsplumply, adverbplumpness, noun

Word Origin

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

plump2

verb
  1. (often foll by down, into, etc) to drop or fall suddenly and heavilyto plump down on the sofa
  2. (intr foll by for) to give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number
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noun
  1. a heavy abrupt fall or the sound of this
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adverb
  1. suddenly or heavilyhe ran plump into the old lady
  2. straight down; directlythe helicopter landed plump in the middle of the field
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adjective, adverb
  1. in a blunt, direct, or decisive manner
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Word Origin

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

plump3

noun
  1. archaic, or dialect a group of people, animals, or things; troop; cluster
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Word Origin

C15: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for plumper

plump

adj.

late 15c., "blunt, dull" (in manners), from Dutch plomp "blunt, thick, massive, stumpy," probably related to plompen "fall or drop heavily" (see plump (v.)). Meaning "fleshy, of rounded form" is from 1540s in English. Danish and Swedish plump "rude, coarse, clumsy" are from the Low German word and represent a different sense development.

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plump

v.1

c.1300, "to fall or strike with a full impact," common Low German word, from or related to Middle Dutch and Dutch plompen, East Frisian plumpen, Middle Low German plumpen, probably more or less imitative of something hard striking something soft. Hence plump (n.) "a firm blow," in pugilism usually one to the stomach.

To plump; to strike, or shoot. I'll give you a plump in the bread basket, or the victualling office; I'll give you a blow in the stomach. ["Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit and Pickpocket Eloquence," London, 1811]


Or, even if any of them should suspect me, I know how to bring myself off. It is but pretending to be affronted, stripping directly, challenging him to fight, and before he can be on his guard, hitting him a plump in the bread-basket, that shall make him throw up his accounts; and I'll engage he will have but very little stomach to accuse me after. ["The Reverie: or A Flight to the Paradise of Fools," London, 1763]
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plump

v.2

"to become plump," 1530s, from plump (adj.). Meaning "to plump (something) up, to cause to swell" is from 1530s. Related: Plumped; plumping.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper