noodle

¹

[ nood-l ]

noun

1. a narrow strip of unleavened egg dough that has been rolled thin and dried, boiled, and served alone or in soups, casseroles, etc.; a ribbon-shaped pasta.

noodle

²

[ nood-l ]

noun

1. Slang.
   1. the head.
   2. the mind.
2. a fool or simpleton.

noodle

³

[ nood-l ]

verb (used without object)

, noo·dled, noo·dling.

1. to improvise a musical passage in a casual manner, especially as a warm-up exercise.
2. Informal.
   1. to play; toy:

      to noodle with numbers as a hobby.

   2. to improvise, experiment, or think creatively:

      The writers noodled for a week and came up with a better idea for the ad campaign.

verb (used with object)

, noo·dled, noo·dling.

1. Informal.
   1. to manipulate or tamper with:

      She denied that she had noodled the statistics to get a favorable result.

   2. to make or devise freely as an exercise or experiment (sometimes followed by up ):

      The architects noodled up a model of a solar house.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to play, experiment, or improvise.

noodle

⁴

[ nood-l ]

verb (used with or without object)

, Chiefly Midland U.S.

, noo·dled, noo·dling.

1. to catch fish, especially catfish, with only one’s bare hands:

   We watched him noodle a 62-pound flathead catfish.

   Their video on how to noodle for some pretty monstrous catfish includes footage from several rivers in Oklahoma.

noodle

¹

/ ˈnuːdəl /

verb

1. slang.
   intr to improvise aimlessly on a musical instrument

noodle

²

/ ˈnuːdəl /

noun

1. often plural a ribbon-like strip of pasta: noodles are often served in soup or with a sauce

noodle

³

/ ˈnuːdəl /

noun

1. See head
   a slang word for head
2. a simpleton

Other Words From

• noo·dler noun
• noo·dling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of noodle¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from German Nudel

Origin of noodle²

First recorded in 1745–55; perhaps variant of noddle (with oo from fool ¹ )

Origin of noodle³

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; origin uncertain

Origin of noodle⁴

First recorded in 1920–25; origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of noodle¹

C18: from German Nudel, origin obscure

Origin of noodle²

C18: perhaps a blend of noddle ¹and noodle ¹

Example Sentences

It started as a side project, but dumplings, along with other entrees, such as noodle kits, soon became her full-time job.

From Washington Post

Unlike other areas of the body, the head is lacking subcutaneous fat to keep it warm so an added layer of protection will insulate your noodle and keep you from shivering on your next walk home.

From Popular-Science

Newspaper accounts from the time also claimed that many farmers no longer ate the grain their families had grown for generations, opting instead for less-nutritious noodles and rice so they could export their quinoa.

From MIT Technology Review

So, we’ll start with product and talk finances before noodling over the surprising venture capital results that Poshmark is prepped to produce.

From TechCrunch

While rice flour is traditionally used in dense, flat recipes like scallion pancakes or noodles, it also works for baking since it’s almost flavorless and rises easily.

From Outside Online

For those unfamiliar, soba is buckwheat noodle dish—and they proved much more popular amongst the public.

From The Daily Beast

Early arrival is essential unless you enjoy waiting 20 minutes for noodle soup.

From The Daily Beast

“Feel my noodle,” he says as he lowers a forkful onto her face.

From The Daily Beast

He moved across the Pacific in 2009, and worked at three different ramen noodle shops in Japan.

From The Daily Beast

The question surrounding the noodle recedes, replaced by new ones: What makes a marriage?

From The Daily Beast

I recalled patches of the bright dreams filling my poor noodle when I was riding to meet her, and I smiled in derision at myself.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, Mother darling, what a noodle you are not to know that it's the man who does the heart-breaking nowadays!

From Project Gutenberg

I don't mind McGregor; he's only a noodle at best, and the old man can afford to lose the money; but Charley's another story!

From Project Gutenberg

If it is desired not to follow this plan, the dough may be rolled into a thin sheet and cut into strips with a noodle cutter.

From Project Gutenberg

I should think he would sing since he's got a bet on it, you precious innocent, you noodle, Blinkard!'

From Project Gutenberg

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