dab
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dab
to press briefly with a cloth, sponge, etc. without rubbing: dab a cut to stop the bleeding; to press lightly
Not to be confused with:
daub – to coat or smear a surface with a thick substance; to paint crudely: daub the primer on the raw wood
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
dab 1
(dăb)v. dabbed, dab·bing, dabs
v.tr.
1. To apply with short poking strokes: dabbed some paint on the worn spots.
2. To cover lightly with or as if with a moist substance: dabbed the back of the fabric with glue.
3.
a. To rub or pat (something) lightly: dabbed his eye with the corner of his sleeve.
b. To press (something) lightly against an object or surface: dabbed a napkin to her lips.
c. To remove or brush away with light strokes: dabbed the tears from the child's eyes.
v.intr.
To make light patting or stroking motions: dabbed at the wound with a piece of gauze.
n.
1. A small amount: a dab of jelly.
2. A quick light pat.
[Middle English dabben, to strike.]
dab 2
(dăb)n.
Any of various flatfishes, especially the edible Limanda limanda of northeast Atlantic waters.
[Middle English dabbe.]
dab 3
(dăb)n. Chiefly British
A dab hand.
[Origin unknown.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
dab
(dæb)vb, dabs, dabbing or dabbed
1. to touch lightly and quickly
2. (tr) to daub with short tapping strokes: to dab the wall with paint.
3. (tr) to apply (paint, cream, etc) with short tapping strokes
n
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) chiefly Brit a slang word for fingerprint
[C14: of imitative origin]
dab
(dæb)n
1. (Animals) a small common European brown flatfish, Limanda limanda, covered with rough toothed scales: family Pleuronectidae: a food fish
2. (Animals) (often plural) any of various other small flatfish, esp flounders. Compare sand dab
3. (Animals) Also called: patiki a sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebia, common around New Zealand's South Island
[C15: from Anglo-French dabbe, of uncertain origin]
DAB
abbreviation for
(Broadcasting) digital audio broadcasting
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dab1
(dæb)v. dabbed, dab•bing,
n. v.t.
1. to pat or tap gently: I dabbed my eyes with a handkerchief.
2. to apply (a substance) by light strokes.
3. to strike, esp. lightly.
v.i. 4. to strike lightly; make a dab; pat: She dabbed at the stain on her dress.
n. 5. a quick or light pat, as with something soft.
6. a small lump or quantity: a dab of powder.
[1250–1300; compare Norwegian dabbe shuffle along, German tappen grope]
dab′ber, n.
dab2
(dæb)n.
any of several flatfishes of the genus Limanda, esp. the European flatfish, L. limanda.
[1570–80; of obscure orig.]
dab3
(dæb)n. Slang.
a person skilled in something; expert.
Also called dab′ hand′.[1685–95; of uncertain orig.]
DAB
Dictionary of American Biography.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
dab
Past participle: dabbed
Gerund: dabbing
Imperative |
---|
dab |
dab |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | dab - a light touch or stroke |
2. | dab - a small quantity of something moist or liquid; "a dab of paint"; "a splatter of mud"; "just a splash of whiskey" small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity - an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude | |
Verb | 1. | dab - apply (usually a liquid) to a surface; "dab the wall with paint" |
2. | dab - hit lightly; "pat him on the shoulder" strike - deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon; "The teacher struck the child"; "the opponent refused to strike"; "The boxer struck the attacker dead" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
dab
verb
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
dab 1
verbnoun
dab 2
nounChiefly British. A person with a high degree of knowledge or skill in a particular field:
Informal: whiz.
Slang: crackerjack.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
شَيْء قَليل مِنلَمْسَه، تَرْبيتَهيَمْسَحُ، يُرَبِّتُ
jemný dotekkapkalehce poklepávat/poťukávatždibeček
dupduppeen lille smuleklat
megérintés
bera lauslega álétt snertingsmáklípa, klína
gniužulasgumulasšvelniai nuspaudytišvelnus prisilietimas
piciņapiesitienspieskārienspikucītisviegli pieskarties
kúštikľahko sa dotýkaťľahký dotyk
azıcıkbir parçahafif hafif bastırmakhafifçe dokunuş
dab
1 [dæb]A. N
B. VT (= touch lightly) → tocar ligeramente; (with cream, butter) → untar ligeramente; (with paint, water) → dar unos toques a
to dab a stain off → quitar una mancha humedeciéndola
to dab on → untar ligeramente
to dab a stain off → quitar una mancha humedeciéndola
to dab on → untar ligeramente
dab
2 [dæb] N (= fish) → lenguado mdab
3 [dæb]A. ADJ to be a dab hand at (doing) sth (Brit) → ser un hacha para (hacer) algo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
DAB
[ˈdæb] n abbr (RADIO) (=digital audio broadcasting) → DAB mdab
[ˈdæb] vt
[+ one's eyes, lips] → se tamponner
He dabbed his lips with the napkin → Il se tamponna les lèvres avec la serviette.
He dabbed his lips with the napkin → Il se tamponna les lèvres avec la serviette.
n
a dab [glue, paste, glue] → un peu
a dab of paint → un petit coup de peinture
a dab [glue, paste, glue] → un peu
a dab of paint → un petit coup de peinture
dab at
vt [+ something damp] → tamponner; [+ one's eyes, mouth] → se tamponner; [+ wound] → tamponnerCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
dab
1n
(= small amount) → Klecks m; (applied with puff, of cream etc) → Tupfer m; (of liquid, perfume, glue etc) → Tropfen m; (of butter) → Klacks m; a dab of powder/ointment etc → etwas or ein bisschen Puder/Salbe etc; to give something a dab of paint → etw überstreichen
dabs pl (Brit inf: = fingerprints) → Fingerabdrücke pl
vt (with powder etc) → betupfen; (with towel etc) → tupfen; to dab one’s eyes → sich (dat) → die Augen tupfen; she dabbed ointment/powder on her face/the wound → sie betupfte sich (dat) → das Gesicht/die Wunde mit Salbe/Puder
dab
2dab
3Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
dab
1 [dæb]1. n (light stroke) → colpetto, tocco; (of paint) → pennellata; (small amount) → pochino, punta; (of glue) → goccio
a dab of paint → un colpetto di vernice
a dab of paint → un colpetto di vernice
2. adj to be a dab hand at sth/at doing sth (fam) → essere in gambissima in qc/a fare qc
3. vt (touch lightly) (also dab at) → picchiettare lievemente; (eyes, wound) → tamponare; (apply, paint, cream) to dab sth on sth → applicare qc con colpetti leggeri su qc
dab
2 [dæb] n (fish) → limandaCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
dab
(dӕb) – past tense, past participle dabbed – verb to touch gently with something soft or moist. He dabbed the wound gently with cottonwool.
noun1. a small lump of anything soft or moist. a dab of butter.
2. a gentle touch. a dab with a wet cloth.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.