plump

¹

[ pluhmp ]

adjective

, plump·er, plump·est.

1. well filled out or rounded in form; somewhat fleshy or fat.

   Synonyms: rotund, portly

   Antonyms: thin

verb (used without object)

1. to become plump (often followed by up or out ).

   Synonyms: fatten

verb (used with object)

1. to make plump (often followed by up or out ):

   to plump up the sofa pillows.

   Synonyms: fatten

plump

²

[ pluhmp ]

verb (used without object)

1. to drop or fall heavily or suddenly; come down abruptly or with direct impact.
2. Chiefly British. to vote exclusively for one candidate in an election, instead of distributing or splitting one's votes among a number.

verb (used with object)

1. to drop or throw heavily or suddenly (often followed by down ):

   He plumped himself down and fell asleep.

2. to utter or say bluntly (often followed by out ):

   She plumps out the truth at the oddest times.

3. to praise or extol:

   road signs plumping the delights of a new candy bar.

noun

1. a heavy or sudden fall.
2. the sound resulting from such a fall.

adverb

1. with a heavy or sudden fall or drop.
2. directly or bluntly, as in speaking.
3. in a vertical direction; straight down.
4. with sudden encounter.
5. with direct impact.

adjective

1. direct; downright; blunt:

   Days after being accused, they met the charge with a plump denial.

verb phrase

1. to support enthusiastically; be wholeheartedly in favor of:

   to plump for a team.

plump

³

[ pluhmp ]

noun

, Chiefly British Dialect.

1. a group or cluster.
2. a flock:

   a plump of ducks.

plump

¹

/ plʌmp /

adjective

1. well filled out or rounded; fleshy or chubby

   a plump turkey

2. bulging, as with contents; full

   a plump wallet

3. (of amounts of money) generous; ample

   a plump cheque

verb

1. often foll byup or out to make or become plump

   to plump up a pillow

plump

²

/ plʌmp /

noun

1. archaic.
   a group of people, animals, or things; troop; cluster

plump

³

/ plʌmp /

verb

1. often foll bydown, into, etc to drop or fall suddenly and heavily

   to plump down on the sofa

2. intrfoll byfor to give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number

noun

1. a heavy abrupt fall or the sound of this

adverb

1. suddenly or heavily

   he ran plump into the old lady

2. straight down; directly

   the helicopter landed plump in the middle of the field

adjective

1. in a blunt, direct, or decisive manner

Derived Forms

• ˈplumpness, noun
• ˈplumply, adverb

Other Words From

• plumply adverb
• plumpness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plump¹

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier plompe “dull, rude,” from Middle Dutch plomp “blunt, squat”; cognate with Middle Low German plump “uneducated, clumsy”

Origin of plump²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English verb plumpen “to plunge into water, dive,” cognate with Dutch plompen; probably imitative

Origin of plump³

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English plump; origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of plump¹

C15 (meaning: dull, rude), C16 (in current senses): perhaps from Middle Dutch plomp dull, blunt

Origin of plump²

C15: of uncertain origin

Origin of plump³

C14: probably of imitative origin; compare Middle Low German plumpen, Middle Dutch plompen

Synonym Study

See stout.

Example Sentences

October's full moon is known as the Hunter's Moon as it is the time of year when leaves start to fall and animals have plumped up over the summer, ready for winter.

From BBC

And one of last year’s bloomers, named Stankosaurus Rex for its massive 8-foot height, is now fruiting, so it looks like a tall upright club covered with plump crimson orbs.

From Los Angeles Times

Nor is it a juicy hunk of a beefsteak tomato or a pleasantly plump eggplant.

From Salon

Leave shrimp in the oven for even a minute too long, and they will go from succulent and plump to rubber ball bouncy.

From Seattle Times

Five kinds of plump raisins, cherries, currants, figs, apricots, peaches, apples, even dried melon—it seemed all of Turfan was an orchard.

From Literature

Related Words

• chunky
• fleshy
• pudgy
• well-fed