noodle

plural noodles

1. plural normallyA string or flat strip of pasta or other dough, usually cooked (at least initially) by boiling, and served in soup or in a dry form mixed with a sauce and other ingredients.

   She is cooking noodles for dinner.

   3 more examples

   She slurped a long noodle up out of her soup.

   He settled for the noodles and then after watching The Jungle Book twice on video it was time for beddy-bys.

   1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 148

   One brought two boxes of instant mami noodles.

   2003, Ma. Romina M. Gonzalez, Welostit and Other Stories, page 51

2. broadlyAn object which is long and thin like a noodle (sense 1).
   1. abbreviationbroadlyellipsisinformalEllipsis of pool noodle (“a long, slender tube or rod, extruded from buoyant foam and usually brightly coloured, used as an exercise tool or toy in swimming pools”).
3. archaicA dumpling cooked by boiling and served in soup; a knaidel or knödel.
4. slangThe penis.
5. slanglifestyleA long and slender dragon, usually an eastern dragon.
6. InternetendearinghumorousA borzoi dog.

plural noodles

1. datedinformalA person with poor judgment; a fool.

   You vvrong me, noodle (boxes his ears). Novv then to the point.

   1796 March 25 (first performance), J[ames] C. Cross, “The Village Doctor, a Burletta. […]”, in Parnassian Bagatelles: Being a Miscellaneous Collection of Poetical Attempts. […], London: […] Burton and Co. […]; [for] Bellamy, […], published 1796, →OCLC, page 140

   5 more examples

   Laura told me the names of all the actors and actreſſes as they preſented themſelves; and, not contented vvith this, the ſatyrical baggage deſcrib'd their characters nicely, as they appeared. "This here (ſaid ſhe) is a noodle—That fellovv is a brute:[…]."

   1751, [Alain-René Lesage], “Which is as Short as the Foregoing”, in [Tobias George Smollett], transl., The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane. […], 3rd edition, volume I, London: […] J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, book III, page 244

   [T]hou would'st fling thy cuckoldy steeple-hat one way, and that bloodthirsty long-sword another, and trip like the noodles of Hogs-Norton, when the pigs play on the organ.

   1826, [Walter Scott], chapter III, in Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, →OCLC, page 67

   [A] long and hopeless career in your profession, the chuckling grin of noodles, the sarcastic leer of the genuine political rogue— […] these were the penalties exacted for liberality of opinion at that period; and not only was there no pay, but there were many stripes.

   1839, Sydney Smith, “Preface”, in The Works of the Rev. Sydney Smith. […], volume I, London: […] [A[ndrew] Spottiswoode] for Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, […], →OCLC, page viii

   If that portrait could speak, sir,— […] it would testify, that a long period has elapsed since I first habitually addressed it as the picture of a Noodle. Nothing that a Noodle does, can awaken surprise or indignation; the proceedings of a Noodle can only inspire contempt.

   1854, Charles Dickens, “Final”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC, 3rd book (Garnering), page 349

   "What are you two noodleth laughing at?" Norrie went on, with a touch of indignation. "Ithn't the thenthe of thent in hith nothe?"

   1905 February 4, Alfred Colbeck, “Netted: The Story of a Capture”, in The Boy’s Own Paper, volume XXVII, number 19 (number 1360 overall), London: “Boy’s Own Paper” Office, […], →OCLC, chapter V (A Surprising Capture), page 314, column 1

2. informalslangThe brain; the head.

   [W]hat appears to at first glance to be a thinking problem can be a problem with sight or hearing. […] There's nothing wrong with your noodle; it's your sensory equipment that needs a bit of help. Learn to compensate.

   2006, Mark Victor Hansen, Art Linkletter, “Mind or Are You ‘Sageing’ or Aging?”, in How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life, Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson, →ISBN, page 172

present singular third person noodles · participle present noodling · participle past noodled · past noodled

1. informalobsoletetransitiveTo fool or trick (someone).

   Synonyms: dupe

2. UKdialectalinformalintransitiveTo engage in frivolous behavior; to fool around or waste time.

present singular third person noodles · participle present noodling · participle past noodled · past noodled

1. ShetlandambitransitiveinformalsingingTo hum or sing (a tune) at a low pitch or volume.

present singular third person noodles · participle present noodling · participle past noodled · past noodled

1. informaltransitivechiefly jazzTo play (a musical instrument or passage of music) or to sing (a passage of music) in an improvisatory or lighthearted manner; also, to play (a series of ornamental notes) on an instrument.
2. USinformaltransitiveTo ponder or think about (something).

   “Noodle that thought around for a while,” said Dr. Johnson to his Biblical Interpretations class.

   Synonyms: mull over

3. informalintransitivechiefly jazzTo play a musical instrument or to sing in an improvisatory or lighthearted manner; also, to play a series of ornamental notes on an instrument.

   He has been noodling with that trumpet all afternoon, and every bit of it sounds awful.

   2 more examples

   [A]udible here and there / in the half-dark, members of an avian orchestra / are already softly noodling, limbering up for / an overture at sunrise, […]

   1965, W[ystan] H[ugh] Auden, “Thanksgiving for a Habitat. The Cave of Nakedness (for Louis and Emmie Kronenberger).”, in About the House, New York, N.Y.; Toronto, Ont.: Random House, →OCLC, page 34

   We’ve learned the prospective danger of Macca [Paul McCartney] noodling around in the studio from McCartney III’s predecessors—“Wonderful Christmastime” came out of the McCartney II sessions, after all.

   2020 November 9, Gwen Ihnat, “With McCartney III, Paul McCartney Offers Lessons from a Legendary Life”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 16 May 2022

4. USinformalintransitiveTo ponder or think, especially in an unproductive or unsystematic manner; to muse.

   He noodled over the problem for a day or two before making a decision.

5. USinformalintransitiveTo attempt in an informal or uncertain manner; to fiddle.

   If the machine is really broken, noodling with the knobs is not going to fix it.

6. USinformalintransitiveOften followed by about or around: to mess around, to play.

plural noodles

1. informalchiefly jazzAn improvised passage of music played on an instrument; also, a series of ornamental notes played on an instrument; a trill.

present singular third person noodles · participle present noodling · participle past noodled · past noodled

1. AustraliainformaltransitiveTo search (mullock (“mining or ore processing waste”)) for opals.
2. AustraliainformaltransitiveTo obtain (an opal) by searching through mullock.
3. AustraliaalsofigurativelyinformaltransitiveTo clear extraneous material from (an opal).
4. AustraliainformalintransitiveTo search mullock for opals; to fossick.

   On the Olympic Field the tour-group is permitted to ‘noodle’ (hunt for opals) on the waste or mullock heaps […]

   1989, Association for Industrial Archaeology, Industrial archaeology review, volume 12

   2 more examples

   In Coober Pedy, noodling for opals is generally discouraged, although a few tourist spots, such as the Old Timers Mine, have noodle pits open to the public.

   1994, RonMoon, Outback Australia: a Lonely Planet Australia guide

   We learn how Lennon used to noodle (fossick) for opal as a kid, how camels were for a long time the only form of transportation, and where the name 'Coober Pedy' came from.

   2006, Making Waves: 10 Years of the Byron Bay Writers Festival, edited by Marele Day, Susan Bradley Smith, and Fay Knight, (Please provide the book title or journal name)

present singular third person noodles · participle present noodling · participle past noodled · past noodled

1. AustraliainformaltransitivefishingTo catch (fish (usually very large catfish), turtles, or other aquatic animals) with the hands; also, to catch (fish) using a gaff or fishing spear; to gaff.

   Fred had several lacerations on his hands from noodling flathead in the river.

   Synonyms: guddle, catfist