noun
Common
dough
doh
Dough (noun) means a thick, soft mixture of flour and liquid used for baking bread, pastry, or similar foods. Example: “She kneaded the dough before letting it rise.”
noun
1
A thick, soft mixture of flour and liquid used for baking bread, pastry, or similar foods.
"She kneaded the dough before letting it rise."
"The pizza base is made from a simple dough of flour, water, and yeast."
"Leave the dough in a warm place until it doubles in size."
2
Money (informal).
"He made serious dough after the business took off."
"He is saving up some dough for a new bike."
"Could you lend me some dough until payday?"
How to use dough
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft mixture you bake bread from — also old-fashioned slang for money.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
knead the dough
roll out the dough
make dough (money)
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- doughs
- Past tense
- doughed
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She kneaded the _____ before letting it rise.
Etymology
From Old English dāg, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to knead, form, or mold."
Related words
Rhymes for dough
See all rhymes for dough →Frequently asked questions
What does “dough” mean?
The word “dough” means a thick, soft mixture of flour and liquid used for baking bread, pastry, or similar foods. In plain terms, the soft mixture you bake bread from — also old-fashioned slang for money.
How do you pronounce “dough”?
“Dough” is pronounced doh (/doʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dough” in a sentence?
Here is “dough” used in a sentence: “She kneaded the dough before letting it rise.”
What part of speech is “dough”?
“Dough” is a noun.
Where does the word “dough” come from?
The word “dough” comes from Old English. From Old English dāg, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to knead, form, or mold.".
Is “dough” a common word?
“Dough” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dough” have?
“Dough” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick, soft mixture of flour and liquid used for baking bread, pastry, or similar foods.
What is the difference between "dough" and "batter" in baking?
Dough is a thick, soft mixture of flour and liquid firm enough to be shaped or kneaded, used for foods like bread and pastry. Batter is thinner and pourable, used for foods like pancakes or cake, because it contains more liquid relative to flour.
Why is "dough" used as slang for money?
"Dough" has long been used as informal slang for money, likely because both dough and money were seen as basic staples that are "kneaded" or worked for. This informal use exists alongside its literal baking sense.
Is "dough" formal or informal when it means money?
When "dough" is used to mean money, it is informal slang, appropriate for casual conversation rather than formal or professional writing.
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