Dough is a paste made out of any cereals (grains) or leguminous crops by mixing the flour with a small amount of water. This step is a precursor to making bread, pasta, noodles, pastry, cookies, and muffins.

In many parts of central India, native people use the quick method of making an instant roasted dough ball or baati.

Flat unleavened breads known as roti, lavash, yufka, matzo, lafa, and tortilla are used in many parts of the world today.

Leavened or fermented dough, made from dry ground grain cereals or legumes mixed with water and yeast are in use all over the world. These includes all kinds of breads made from wheat, maize, rice and other cereals or similar crops used today in the world.

Fried dough foods are common in many cultures.

Dough is usually a non-Newtonian fluid, which is relevant for kneading and kneading machines.

Salt dough, a variant consisting of 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt and 1/2 cup water, can be used as a toy for molding. Such a recipe is the basis for Play-Doh.

Additional definition

Dough, and bread, can also mean money, as in "fork over the dough." This meaning presumably refers to the fact that money has historically provided the means to have enough to eat, and bread has historically been a staple in Europe, where this usage arose.