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Definition of noodle

noodle

/ˈnuː.dəl/
noo · dle

Plural:noodles
•
Past Simple:noodled
•
Past Participle:noodled
•
Present Participle:noodling
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noodle Lexical Profile

noodle Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A thin, elongated strip, ring, or tube of pasta or a similar unleavened dough, typically cooked in boiling liquid and served in soups or with sauces.

Example

"She ordered a large bowl of spicy beef noodle soup for lunch."


2

A person's head or brain, particularly used in an informal, playful, or colloquial context.

Example

"You will need to use your noodle if you want to solve this challenging puzzle."


3

A foolish, silly, or simple-minded person.

Example

"He felt like a complete noodle after arriving a day early for the scheduled meeting."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To improvise, experiment, or play casually, especially with a musical instrument or an abstract idea.

Example

"The guitarist spent the entire afternoon noodling around on his acoustic guitar to find a new melody."


2

American To fish for catfish using only one's bare hands.

Example

"During the summer months, local fishermen often go noodling in the murky waters of the nearby river."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for noodle

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into English in the late 18th century from German 'Nudel', denoting a strip of pasta. The informal sense meaning 'head' or 'brain' (mid-18th century) may be an alteration of 'noddle'.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Noodle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/noodle
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