Chubby

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃʌbi/

Definitions

1. Possessing a pleasantly plump figure that appears soft and round is often associated with being cute and charming
2. Having a slightly overweight appearance characterized by roundness and softness can often evoke feelings of warmth and affection
3. Exhibiting a rounded and fuller body shape that conveys a sense of healthiness and appeal is typically seen as endearing

Etymology: "Chubby" began as a word for a fish. The chub is a short, thick-bodied freshwater fish, and by the 1550s English speakers were already using its name metaphorically for a lazy, stout person. The chub's name itself is probably tied to a set of older words for a lump, heap or stump, drawn from Old Norse "kubbr" ("block, log") and the related "kumbr", so the fish was named for its compact, blocky build. The adjective grew from that noun by adding the common suffix "-y", which turns a noun into a description of something having that quality. "Chubby" is first recorded in 1611, so the sense of plumpness was in use in the early 1600s. A Swedish dialect word, "kubbug", meaning "fat, plump, chubby", shows the same root giving the same idea of a short, solid, rounded shape in a neighbouring language.

Synonyms: plump, overweight, chunky, round, fat

Antonyms: thin, slim, lean, scrawny, skinny