noun1 a small pool of liquid, esp. of rainwater on the ground: splashing through deep puddles | figurative : a little puddle of light.2 clay and sand mixed with water and used as a watertight covering for embankments.
verb [ with obj. ]1 wet or cover (a surface) with water, esp. rainwater: the cobbles under our feet were wet and puddled.• [ no obj. ] (of liquid) form a small pool: rivulets of water coursed down the panes, puddling on the sill.• [ no obj. ] archaic dabble or wallow in mud or shallow water: children are playing and puddling about in the dirt.• [ no obj. ] (puddle around/about) informal occupy oneself in a disorganized or unproductive way: the Internet is just the latest excuse for puddling around at work.2 line (a hole) with puddle.• knead (clay and sand) into puddle.• work (mixed water and clay) to separate gold or opal.• (usu. as nounpuddling) chiefly historical stir (molten iron) with iron oxide in a furnace, to produce wrought iron by oxidizing carbon.
DERIVATIVESpuddler (noun)puddly (adjective)
ORIGIN Middle English: diminutive of Old English pudd‘ditch, furrow’; compare with German dialect Pfudel ‘pool.’
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