Pudgy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌd͡ʒi/

Definitions

1. Exhibiting a roundish or soft physique that is mildly overgrown or portly in nature
2. Characterized by a somewhat stout and tubby form, often evoking a sense of sweetness or charm
3. Having a small amount of excess flesh giving a round and soft appearance

Etymology: "Pudgy" is built from "pudge" and the suffix "-y", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "having the qualities of" the noun. The noun "pudge" is itself a short, chubby thing, and it carries the sense of something small and plump. Put together, "pudgy" describes a body or object that is short and round with a little extra softness to it. The word may also come from an alteration of "pudsy", a dialect adjective with a similar sense of plump and squat. Which of the two is the real source is not settled, so the two routes are best seen as overlapping strands that fed the same English word. Either way, the core idea of a compact, rounded, soft form has stayed constant from its earliest use to now.

Synonyms: chubby, plump, fat, round, portly

Antonyms: slim, thin, lean, skinny, gaunt