puddle

/'pʌdl/
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puddle

A child jumps over a puddle on the sidewalk after the rain.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • A small, shallow pool of liquid: A small accumulation of liquid, typically water, on a surface.
    • A confused mixture or mess: A disorderly collection or state of things.
    • A mixture of wet clay and sand: A dense, impermeable material used in construction, such as for lining ponds.
  2. Verb:

    • To make or form a puddle: To create a small pool of liquid.
    • To dabble or play in a puddle: To move or work in a liquid in a messy, unorganized way.
    • To make muddy or turbid: To stir up sediment in a liquid, making it cloudy.
    • To work a wet mixture: To mix and manipulate a wet substance like clay, mud, or concrete.
    • To urinate: (Informal, especially of animals or young children) To pass urine.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:

    • After the storm, the children jumped in the muddy puddle.
    • His desk was a puddle of papers and coffee cups.
    • The pond was sealed with a layer of puddle clay.
  • Verb:

    • The heavy rain puddled the dirt path.
    • The toddlers happily puddled about in the wet sand.
    • Don't walk in the stream; you'll puddle the clear water.
    • The workers puddled the concrete to remove air bubbles.
Advanced Usage
  • "To puddle iron": A historical metallurgical process of converting pig iron into wrought iron by stirring it in a molten state.

    • The blacksmith used a furnace to puddle the iron.
  • "To be in a puddle": (Informal, often humorous) To be in a state of emotional overwhelm.

    • She was in a puddle of tears after watching the sad movie.
Variants and Related Words
  • Puddly (adj): Resembling or full of puddles.

    • The road was puddly after the downpour.
  • Puddling (n): The act of making a puddle; specifically, the process of working clay or the historical iron-making process.

    • The puddling of the clay made it watertight.
Synonyms
  • Noun: Pool, plash, splash.
  • Verb: Splash, dabble, muddle, confuse.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
  • Puddle about/around: To spend time in a casual, unproductive, or messy way, especially in liquid.
    • The kids spent the afternoon puddling around in the backyard with the hose.
Related Idioms
  • To make a puddle: (Euphemistic, often for children/pets) To urinate accidentally on the floor.
    • The puppy got excited and made a puddle on the rug.
puddle

A child jumps over a puddle on the sidewalk after the rain.

Noun
  1. something resembling a pool of liquid
    • he stood in a pool of light
    • his chair sat in a puddle of books and magazines
  2. a small body of standing water (rainwater) or other liquid
    • there were puddles of muddy water in the road after the rain
    • the body lay in a pool of blood
  3. a mixture of wet clay and sand that can be used to line a pond and that is impervious to water when dry
Verb
  1. eliminate urine
    • Again, the cat had made on the expensive rug
  2. mix up or confuse
    • He muddled the issues
  3. make a puddle by splashing water
  4. make into a puddle
    • puddled mire
  5. mess around, as in a liquid or paste
    • The children are having fun puddling in paint
  6. work a wet mixture, such as concrete or mud
  7. dip into mud before planting
    • puddle young plants
  8. subject to puddling or form by puddling
    • puddle iron
  9. wade or dabble in a puddle
    • The ducks and geese puddled in the backyard