I. ˈdimpəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English dympull; akin to Old High German tumphilo whirlpool, Old English dyppan to dip — more at dip
1. : a slight natural indentation or hollow in the surface of some part of the human body (as on a cheek or the chin)
2. : a depression or indentation on any surface
the pool's dark surface breaks into dimples — William Wordsworth
specifically : such a depression in a building material (as for the recessing of nailheads)
3. : a slight mound in a building material (as for the holding of metal lath away from the flat surface to which it is applied in plastering)
II. verb
( dimpled ; dimpled ; dimpling -p(ə)liŋ ; dimples )
transitive verb
1. : to produce dimples in : mark with dimples
large, heavy drops that dimpled the smooth stream — Marguerite Steen
2. : to form a conical depression around (a rivet hole in sheet metal) in order to countersink the rivet head
intransitive verb
: to exhibit or form dimples especially in the cheeks in the act of smiling
she dimpled up at them, shyly — Mary McCarthy
: ripple or break into ripples
a little stream that ran dimpling all the way