dollop
DOL-uhp
/ˈdɒləp/
A shapeless mass or blob of something soft or semi-solid, typically food; (as a verb) to add a shapeless mass of something.
Implies a casual, generous, and unmeasured portion of a thick, soft substance like whipped cream, sour cream, or jam.
The story behind the word. In the 1500s, a 'dollop' referred to a clump of turf, grass, or earth dug up from the ground. Over the centuries, English speakers began using it metaphorically to describe any thick, moist, shapeless lump, eventually settling into its cozy modern home as a favorite word for whipped cream and mashed potatoes.
Word relationships
- blob: 'Blob' is slightly more negative or messy, whereas 'dollop' is warm, appetizing, and associated with delicious food toppings.
- spoonful: 'Spoonful' is a measured amount defined by the utensil, while 'dollop' refers to the natural, rounded shape and soft texture of the food itself.
- smidgen: A 'smidgen' is an extremely tiny, precise amount, while a 'dollop' is a large, soft, generous mass.
Commonly confused with
- drop: 'Drop' is for tiny amounts of liquid, while 'dollop' is for larger, thick, semi-solid masses.
Word family
- dolloped (verb): Having added a blob of something.
- dolloping (noun/verb): The act of scooping out soft blobs.
Collocations
- generous dollop
- dollop of whipped cream
- dollop of sour cream
- dollop of jam
Example sentences
- "She placed a generous dollop of vanilla whipped cream on top of the warm pecan pie." Serving a warm dessert.
- "Just dollop some jam onto the center of each pastry before baking." An informal description of adding ingredients.
Memory hook
A DOLLOP of whipped cream looks like a soft, fluffy white DOLL sitting on your pie. Dollop is a plop of something soft.
When not to use
Do not use for liquids (like water or oil) or hard solids; use 'splash' or 'piece' instead.
Fun facts
- The word 'dollop' is an onomatopoeic fit—it sounds exactly like the wet, heavy 'plop' sound a spoonful of sour cream makes when it hits a plate.
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