1 roly-polies | Definition of roly-polies
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roly-poly

adjective
ro·​ly-po·​ly | \ ˌrō-lē-ˈpō-lē How to pronounce roly-poly (audio) \

Definition of roly-poly

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: being short and pudgy : rotund

roly-poly

noun
plural roly-polies

Definition of roly-poly (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a roly-poly person or thing
2 British : a sweet dough spread with a filling, rolled, and baked or steamed

— called also roly-poly pudding

Synonyms & Antonyms for roly-poly

Synonyms: Adjective

blubbery, chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, lardy, obese, overweight, plump, podgy [chiefly British], portly, pudgy, replete, rotund, round, tubby

Antonyms: Adjective

lean, skinny, slender, slim, spare, thin

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First Known Use of roly-poly

Adjective

1820, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for roly-poly

Adjective

reduplication of roly, from roll entry 2

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More Definitions for roly-poly

roly-poly

adjective
How to pronounce roly-poly (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of roly-poly

 (Entry 1 of 2)

informal : short and fat

roly-poly

noun

English Language Learners Definition of roly-poly (Entry 2 of 2)

British : a sweet dough that is spread with jam, rolled up, and baked or steamed

See the full definition for roly-poly in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on roly-poly

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with roly-poly

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for roly-poly

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