Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having a full, rounded, and pleasing shape, often due to a moderate amount of body fat; slightly fat in an attractive way.
   • Direct and straightforward, without qualification or hesitation.

2. Adverb:

   • With a sudden, heavy, or direct fall or impact.
   • Directly and bluntly.

3. Noun:

   • A sudden heavy fall or the sound associated with it.

4. Verb:

   • To drop, fall, or sit down heavily and abruptly.
   • To support or choose someone or something decisively from a group.
   • To make something fuller, rounder, or fatter.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • She has a plump, happy baby. (Describing a pleasingly round figure.)
  • He gave a plump denial to the accusation. (Describing a direct, unqualified statement.)

• Adverb:

  • The ripe fruit fell plump into my hand. (Describing a direct, heavy fall.)
  • She told him plump that she was leaving. (Describing a blunt manner of speaking.)

• Noun:

  • We heard the plump of the sack hitting the floor. (Referring to the sound of a heavy fall.)

• Verb:

  • He plumped down onto the sofa after work. (Describing sitting down heavily.)
  • After much thought, I plumped for the chocolate cake. (Describing making a decisive choice.)
  • The chef plumped the raisins in warm water. (Describing the action of making something fuller by soaking.)

Advanced Usage

• "to plump for": To choose or vote for someone or something decisively, especially when faced with alternatives.

  • In the end, the committee plumped for the more experienced candidate.

• "to plump up": To make something softer, fuller, and rounder by shaking or patting it.

  • She plumped up the pillows on the bed.

• "to plump out": To become fuller, rounder, or fatter.

  • His cheeks began to plump out as he recovered his health.

Variants and Related Words

• Plumpish (adj): Somewhat plump.
• Plumpness (n): The quality or state of being plump.

Synonyms

• Adjective (for shape): Chubby, rounded, full, buxom.
• Adjective (for manner): Blunt, direct, forthright, unequivocal.
• Verb (for falling): Flop, slump, collapse.
• Verb (for choosing): Opt for, choose, select, go for.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Plump down: To sit or set something down heavily and suddenly.

  • He plumped the groceries down on the kitchen counter.

• Plump up: See "Advanced Usage" above.

Related Idioms

• "A plump lie": A complete and obvious lie.

  • That excuse was a plump lie, and everyone knew it.

• "Plump and plain": Very clear and straightforward.

  • I'll tell you plump and plain what I think.

Adjective

1. sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure;
   • a chubby child
   • pleasingly plump

Adverb

1. straight down especially heavily or abruptly
   • the anchor fell plump into the sea
   • we dropped the rock plump into the water

Noun

1. the sound of a sudden heavy fall

Verb

1. give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number
   • I plumped for the losing candidates
2. make fat or plump
   • We will plump out that poor starving child
3. set (something or oneself) down with or as if with a noise
   • He planked the money on the table
   • He planked himself into the sofa
4. drop sharply
   • The stock market plummeted