a doll is a model of a human (often a baby), a humanoid (like bert and ernie), or an animal. modern dolls are often made of cloth or plastic. other materials that are, or have been, used in the manufacture of dolls include cornhusks, bone, stone, wood, porcelain (sometimes called china), bisque, celluloid, wax, and even apples. often people will make dolls out of whatever materials are available to them.