What does dollop mean?
A dollop is a small, soft, shapeless mass of a thick or semi-liquid substance — most often a spoonful of cream, sauce, butter, or mashed food added to a dish. The word belongs chiefly to informal British and American English and carries warm, appetizing associations: recipes call for 'a generous dollop' rather than a precise measure, which is precisely its appeal. Beyond the kitchen, dollop has developed a well-established figurative use, describing an amount of something abstract, as in 'a speech laced with a dollop of irony'. It also functions as a verb, meaning to serve or apply food in dollops, as when one dollops whipped cream over a dessert. The word's origin is uncertain; it first appears in English texts in the early seventeenth century. Its vivid sound and easy informality make it a favorite of food writers and home cooks alike.
A shapeless lump or serving of a soft, semi-liquid, or viscous substance, especially food.
"Add a dollop of sour cream to each bowl of soup."
(Figurative) An appreciable amount of something abstract or non-physical.
"Her success owed much to talent and a large dollop of luck."
(Informal) To place or serve a substance in soft lumps or spoonfuls.
"She dolloped mashed potatoes onto each plate."
Regular plural, standard in both British and American English.
"Two dollops of ice cream melted quickly in the sun."
No one knows where 'dollop' came from — this cozy kitchen word appeared in English in the 1600s and simply refused to explain itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dollop
Dollop entered written English in the early seventeenth century as a dialectal term for a soft lump or piece, particularly of food. Its ultimate origin is unknown, though it may be related to similar dialect words recorded in East Anglia. It spread from regional use into general informal English, first in Britain and later throughout the English-speaking world, retaining its cozy, culinary character throughout.
How dollop is actually used
Informal to neutral in register; overwhelmingly used for food and cooking in everyday speech, but figurative uses ('a dollop of skepticism') are well established and add a light, conversational tone.
Easily confused with dollop
Gallop is the fast gait of a horse, while dollop is a small lump of a thick substance — the two merely sound alike.