Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense dabs, present participle dabbing, past tense, past participle dabbed
1. verb
If you dab something, you touch it several times using quick, light movements. If you dab a substance onto a surface, you put it there using quick, light movements.
She arrived weeping, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. [VERB noun]
She spread the icing over the cake, dabbing it with a knife. [VERB noun]
She dabbed iodine on the cuts on her forehead. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
He dabbed at his lips with the napkin. [VERB + at]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: apply, spread, smudge, daub More Synonyms of dab
2. countable noun
A dab of something is a small amount of it that is put onto a surface.
[informal]
She wore no make-up, not even a dab of lipstick.
...a dab of glue. [+ of]
Synonyms: spot [British], little, bit, drop More Synonyms of dab
3. variable noun
A dab is a small flat fish with rough scales.
More Synonyms of dab
DAB
(dæb)
DAB is the transmission of digital stereo over conventional radio channels. DAB is an abbreviation for 'digital audio broadcasting'.
The overall sound quality of DAB is miles better than FM.
dab in British English1
(dæb)
verbWord forms: dabs, dabbing or dabbed
1.
to touch lightly and quickly
2. (transitive)
to daub with short tapping strokes
to dab the wall with paint
3. (transitive)
to apply (paint, cream, etc) with short tapping strokes
noun
4.
a small amount, esp of something soft or moist
a dab of ink
5.
a small light stroke or tap, as with the hand
6. (often plural) mainly British a slang word for fingerprint
7.
a gesture, performed as part of a celebration, in which one arm is angled across the upper chest while the other is extended parallel to the first arm, with the face turned to the bent elbow
Word origin
C14: of imitative origin
dab in British English2
(dæb)
noun
1.
a small common European brown flatfish, Limanda limanda, covered with rough toothed scales: family Pleuronectidae: a food fish
2. (often plural)
any of various other small flatfish, esp flounders
Compare sand dab
3. Also called: patiki
a sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebia, common around New Zealand's South Island
Word origin
C15: from Anglo-French dabbe, of uncertain origin
dab in British English3
(dæb)
noun
British informal dab hand
Word origin
C17: perhaps from dab1 (vb)
DAB in British English
abbreviation for
digital audio broadcasting
DAB in American English
Dictionary of American Biography
dab in American English1
(dæb)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: dabbed or ˈdabbing
1.
to touch or stroke lightly and quickly
2.
to pat with something soft or moist
3.
to put on (paint, etc.) with light, quick strokes
noun
4.
a light, quick stroke; tap; pat
5.
a small, soft or moist bit of something
a dab of rouge
Derived forms
dabber (ˈdabber)
noun
Word origin
ME dabben, to strike, akin to MDu dabben & Norw dabba < ? IE base *dhabh-, to strike
dab in American English2
(dæb)
noun
1.
any of several flounders (esp. Limanda proboscidea) of coastal waters
2.
any small flatfish
Word origin
ME dabbe < ?
dab in American English3
(dæb)
noun
British, Informal
an expert; dab hand
More idioms containing
dab
a dab hand at something
Examples of 'dab' in a sentence
dab
His father may have been a dab hand with relativity but was less good, it seems, at relatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The artist was known at times to use his fingertips to dab paint on the canvas.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Also it came with a rather puny dab of sour cream.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Apply on to the spot or blemish with a cotton bud and dab around the outside to blend in with your foundation.
The Sun (2010)
Where the murals were intact, he did no more than dab away the dust and grime.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Put a dab of adhesive on each cut end, to bond.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Lipstick will make this less cool - so just a dab of balm please.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Technically, you need only a small amount to dab into a wrinkle to fill it in.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Instead, mix concealer with a dab of eye cream and apply.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
DAB radios used to be prohibitively expensive but this one is affordable and looks fantastic.
The Sun (2013)
Add the dab to the roasting tin, put the lemon slices on top and pour over the stock.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She is also a dab hand in the kitchen - and has plans to open a restaurant of her own.
The Sun (2010)
Are you a dab hand at dreaming up outfits, and could you be a fashion designer of the future?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Isn't he a dab hand?
The Sun (2012)
Take a small mirror with you and dab a tiny amount on your cheek or forehead, blend it in and go outside.
The Sun (2009)
You can also dab a tiny amount of loose powder over the lips then repeat step two - this should ensure your lip colour lasts.
The Sun (2008)
You don't want a solid colour, so dab rather than paint.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We've heard you're a dab hand at putting up shelves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Don't forget, the smallest dab will go a really long way.
The Sun (2012)
They're a dab hand at jungle noises, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The X Factor singer is a dab hand under the sink or fixing boilers.
The Sun (2012)
Word lists with
dab
Types of fish
In other languages
dab
British English: dab VERB
If you dab something, you touch it several times using quick, light movements.
She arrived weeping, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
American English: dab
Brazilian Portuguese: tocar levemente
Chinese: 轻擦
European Spanish: dar ligeros toques
French: tamponner
German: betupfen
Italian: tamponare
Japanese: 軽くたたく
Korean: 가볍게 문지르다
European Portuguese: tocar levemente
Latin American Spanish: dar ligeros toques
British English: dab NOUN
a dab of sth A dab of something is a small amount of it that is put onto a surface.
She wore no make-up, not even a dab of lipstick.
American English: dab
Brazilian Portuguese: pincelada
Chinese: 少量
European Spanish: toque
French: touche
German: Tupfer
Italian: velo
Japanese: 少量
Korean: 적은 양
European Portuguese: pincelada
Latin American Spanish: toque
Chinese translation of 'dab'
dab
(dæb)
vt
[eyes, lips]轻(輕)擦 (qīngcā)
[paint, cream]轻(輕)而快地涂(塗) (qīng ér kuài de tú)
n(c)
(inf)
a dab (of sth)[of paint, glue]少量(的某物) (shǎoliàng (de mǒuwù))
to dab a wound with sth用某物轻(輕)搽伤(傷)口 (yòng mǒuwù qīngchá shāngkǒu)
to be a dab hand at sth/doing sth (Brit, inf) 是某方面的能手/擅长(長)做某事 (shì mǒu fāngmiàn de néngshǒu/shàncháng zuò mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to pat lightly and quickly
dabbing her eyes with a tissue
Synonyms
pat
She patted me on the knee.
press
touch
As the aeroplane came down, the wing touched a pile of rubble.
stroke
She was absentmindedly stroking her cat.
tap
Tap the egg lightly with a teaspoon.
wipe
She wiped her hands on the towel.
mop
There was a woman mopping the stairs.
blot
swab
2 (verb)
Definition
to apply with short tapping strokes
She dabbed iodine on the cuts.
Synonyms
apply
spread
Spread the cream over the skin and allow it to remain for 12 hours.
smudge
She kissed me, careful not to smudge me with her fresh lipstick.
daub
They daubed paint on the wall.
spot
stipple
bedaub
1 (noun)
Definition
a small amount of something soft or moist
a dab of glue
Synonyms
spot (British)
We've given all the club members tea, coffee and a spot of lunch.
little
Don't give me too much. Just a little.
bit
drop
I'll have a drop of that milk.
touch
She thought she might have a touch of flu.
taste
He took another small taste.
suggestion
that fashionably faint suggestion of a tan
pat
trace
Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand.
hint
I glanced at her and saw no hint of irony on her face.
dash
Add a dash of balsamic vinegar.
particle
splash
splashes of ink over a glowing white surface
sprinkle
smear
lick
It could do with a lick of paint to brighten up its premises.
trickle
dribble
Apply a dribble of shampoo.
fleck
His hair is dark grey with flecks of ginger.
smudge
tad (informal)
speck
There is a speck of blood by his ear.
dollop (informal)
modicum
I like to think I've had a modicum of success.
soupçon
smidgen or smidgin (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
a light stroke or tap
just one dab of the right fragrance
Synonyms
touch
Even a light touch on the face can trigger this pain.
stroke
flick
a flick of a paintbrush
smear
a smear of gravy
blot
an ink blot
smudge
smudges of blood
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blot
Definition
a stain or spot, esp. of ink
an ink blot
Synonyms
spot,
mark,
patch,
smear,
smudge,
speck,
blotch,
splodge,
stain
in the sense of dash
Definition
a small amount
Add a dash of balsamic vinegar.
Synonyms
drop,
little,
bit,
shot (informal),
touch,
spot (British),
suggestion,
trace,
hint,
pinch,
sprinkling,
tot,
trickle,
nip,
tinge,
soupçon
in the sense of daub
Definition
to smear (paint or mud) quickly or carelessly over a surface