dimple

Meanings

Noun

• A small depression or indentation in a surface.
• Specifically, a small natural depression on the skin, especially on the face near the corners of the mouth.

Verb

• To create a dimple in.
• To create a dimple in one's face by smiling.
• To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities.

Related

Similar words

• (depression in a surface): dent
• dent, mar

Origin

• From Middle English dympull, likely from Proto-Germanic *dumpila-, from Proto-Germanic *dumpa-, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewb-, equivalent to dialectal dump + --le. Akin to Old High German tumphilo ("pool") (whence German Tümpel) and Old English dyppan ("to dip").