dimple

noun

small natural indentation in the flesh

L269827 on Wikidata ↗

verb

mark with dimples, creating dimples in or becoming dimpled

L331450 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈdɪm.pəl/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰewb- Proto-Germanic *dumpaz Proto-Germanic *dumpilaz Proto-West Germanic *dumpil Old English *dympel Middle English dimpel English dimple From Middle English dimpel, dimpil, dympull, from Old English *dympel (“pit, depression”), from Proto-West Germanic *dumpil, from Proto-Germanic *dumpilaz (“sink-hole, dimple”), from Proto-Germanic *dumpaz (“hole, hollow, pit”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewb- (“deep, hollow”), equivalent to dialectal dump (“deep hole, pool”) + -le (diminutive suffix). Cognate with German Low German Dümpel, German Tümpel (“pond, pool”). Related also to Old English dyppan (“to dip”).

A small depression or indentation in a surface.
“The accident created a dimple in the hood of the car.”
“The garden pool's dark surface […] breaks into dimples small and bright.”
A small depression or indentation in a surface.
“You have very cute dimples.”
A small depression or indentation in a surface.

verb

To form a small indentation in (something).
“The hailstorm dimpled the roof of our car.”
To form a small indentation in (something).
“The young girl dimpled in glee as she was handed a cupcake.”
To form a small indentation in (something).
“And smiling eddies dimpled o'er the main.”