Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A small natural indentation in the flesh on a part of the human body, especially in the cheek or on the chin.
- n. A slight depression or indentation in a surface.
- v. To form dimples by smiling.
- v. To produce dimples in.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A natural or transient dent or small hollow in some soft part of the surface of the human body, most common in youth, produced especially in the cheek by the act of smiling, and hence regarded in that situation as a sign of joyousness or good humor.
- n. A slight depression or indentation on any surface, as on water when slightly agitated.
- To form dimples; sink into depressions or little inequalities.
- To mark with dimples; produce dimples in: as, a smile dimpled her cheeks.
Wiktionary
- n. A small depression or indentation in a surface.
- n. Specifically, a small natural depression on the skin, especially on the face near the corners of the mouth.
- v. To create a dimple in.
- v. To create a dimple in one's face by smiling.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some part of the body, esp. on the cheek or chin.
- n. A slight indentation on any surface.
- v. To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities.
- v. To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions.
WordNet 3.0
- n. any slight depression in a surface
- n. a small natural hollow in the cheek or chin
- v. produce dimples while smiling
- v. mark with, or as if with, dimples
- n. a chad that has been punched or dimpled but all four corners are still attached
Etymologies
- Middle English dimpel.
Examples
“KITCHEN: At most, as best you tell, there may be what we call a dimple?”
“Yesterday I had the skin frozen and now the dimple is larger, the size of a pencil eraser.”
“On Grand this deformation will take the form of a concave window - what Diller calls a "dimple" - overlooking the avenue and framing a large conference room.”
“But, of course, there are Democratic aides inside the courthouse where the recount and the consideration of these so-called dimple ballots is going on.”
“BURTON: Is it fair to say that in Broward county, for example, anything less than what would be characterized as a dimple -- I mean a little nick, a little poke, something that you could barely -- barely discernible, they are not counting those as votes?”
“You know, your focus on the so-called dimple is seen as a real insult to people whom I heard testify in Palm Beach yesterday.”
“In a hearing scheduled for the morning, he must now decide whether to grant a request from the Florida Democratic Party that he order the canvassing board to also count so-called dimple ballots, ballots which were not fully punched out by the voters.”
“Below the lateral epicondyle of the humerus a portion of the head of the radius is palpable; its position is indicated on the surface by a little dimple, which is best seen when the arm is extended.”
XII. Surface Anatomy and Surface Markings. 11. Surface Anatomy of the Upper Extremity
“A dimple is the mark left by the angel's finger in turning up the face to kiss it when asleep.”
Current Superstitions Collected from the Oral Tradition of English Speaking Folk
“When the dough is ready to bake, "dimple" the dough all over with your finger tips and brush generously with good olive oil OR spread with a simple tomato sauce.”
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