A dimple is a small, natural indentation that appears on someone's face, usually in the cheeks or chin. When people with dimples smile or laugh, these little dips become visible, creating a charming effect that many people find endearing. Some babies are born with dimples that stay with them their whole lives.

Dimples form because of the way facial muscles attach to the skin underneath. When certain people smile, the muscle pulls the skin inward slightly, creating that distinctive small hollow. Not everyone has dimples: they're fairly uncommon, which makes them special when someone has them.

The word can also describe any small hollow or dip in a surface. A golf ball is covered with dimples (about 300 to 500 tiny dents) that help it fly farther and straighter through the air. You might notice dimples on the surface of a lake when raindrops begin to fall, creating temporary little pockets across the water. A dimpled surface is one that has these small indentations, whether they're permanent like on a golf ball or temporary like ripples on water.