Definition

Noun: 1. A small, shapeless amount or lump of a soft substance, especially food: A dollop is a small, often roughly scooped or spooned portion of something soft or semi-solid, like a food item. It is not a precisely measured amount. 2. An informal or indefinite small quantity of something: It can also refer to a small, casual amount of a non-food item, such as an abstract quality.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She served the pie with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
  • He added a dollop of mustard to his hot dog.
  • The story was told with a dollop of humor.

Advanced Usage

• "a dollop of": This is the standard collocation used to introduce the substance being referred to. It implies a casual, often generous, serving.
  • The recipe calls for a dollop of sour cream on top.
• Used figuratively to describe an added amount of an abstract quality.
  • He faced the challenge with a dollop of courage.

Variants and Related Words

• Dollop (verb): To serve or add something in a shapeless lump or casual amount.
  • She dolloped the mashed potatoes onto the plate.

Synonyms

• Blob: A small, shapeless mass of a thick liquid.
• Glob: Similar to blob, a soft, shapeless lump.
• Spoonful: A more precise term for an amount held by a spoon.
• Scoop: An amount taken up by a scooping motion.

Related Phrases

• A dollop of common sense: A figurative phrase meaning a small amount of practical wisdom.
  • The plan needs a dollop of common sense to be successful.

Noun

1. a small measure (usually of food)