🪵 Small surface bumps 😬 Skin spots

pimpling

9.6

Small raised bumps on a surface like wood or metal

noun

Specialized

: bultos

Careless application of the finish resulted in noticeable pimpling on the wooden surface.

Examples

The old paint on the door developed pimpling after years of exposure to moisture.
Inspect the metal for any signs of pimpling before applying a new coat of paint.
Wow! Look at that pimpling on the wall!
The pimpling on the wooden table was quite noticeable.
The old paint on the door developed pimpling after years of exposure to moisture.
Careless application of the finish resulted in noticeable pimpling on the wooden surface.
Inspect the metal for any signs of pimpling before applying a new coat of paint.

Synonyms

knobbiness

vspimpling

7.5

Small rounded lumps on a surface that you can feel

is irregular bumps or imperfections rather than just rounded lumps

pebbling

vspimpling

6.0

A surface with small rounded bumps that give extra grip

is general small surface irregularities not limited to rounded stonelike patterns

knurling

vspimpling

Specialized

9.5

Making small raised lines or bumps on metal to improve grip

is random small imperfections not an intentional patterned surface treatment

Antonyms

smoothness

1 2.6

How something works without pauses or problems

How Bumpy

roughness

4 3.4

pimpling

Specialized

9.6

smoothness

5 1.9

Surface Forms

pimpling singular

pimplings plural

Morphology

pimpling = pimple (semi-transparent) = pimple + ing

The word is built from pimple + -ing, but the sense is a specialized surface-metaphor rather than a fully ordinary event noun.

Etymology

The word pimpling comes from the simple word pimple, which means a 'small raised spot', so for objects it helps to picture many tiny pimples on a painted or wooden surface. That's why pimpling describes little bumps or irregularities on wood, metal, or paint.