Dab

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dæb/
• Rhymes: -æb

From Middle English dabben ("to strike"), cognate with Middle Dutch dabben ("to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble") (Dutch dabben ("(of a horse) to stamp with the forelegs")), Dutch deppen ("to dab"), German tappen ("to fumble, grope"). The noun is from Middle English dabbe ("a strike, blow"), from the verb. Related to tap.

Full definition of dab

Verb

1. (transitive) To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing.I dabbed my face with a towel.
• S. SharpA sore should ... be wiped ... only by dabbing it over with fine lint.
2. (transitive) To apply a substance in this way.He dabbed moisturizing liquid on his face.
3. To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust.
• Sir T. Moreto dab him in the neck
4. To apply hash oil to a heated surface for the purpose of efficient combustion.

Noun

1. A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow.
2. (AAVE) A soft, playful box given in greeting or approval.
• Whipsdom
• Body Heat
• Hustlin' Divaspage 197: I step closer to Profit and draw in a deep, steadying breath while the brothers exchange dabs. “What's up, fam? I see you finally made it.”
3. A small amount, a blob of some soft or wet substance.
4. (chiefly in the plural, dated, British) Fingerprint.
5. A small amount of hash oil.

Coordinate terms

• (soft, playful box given in greeting or approval) fistbump, high five

Related terms

• dob

Adverb

1. With a dab, or sudden contact.

Perhaps corrupted from adept.

Noun

1. One skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.
• GoldsmithOne excels at a plan or the title page, another works away at the body of the book, and the third is a dab at an index.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• dab hand

Origin unknown.

Noun

1. A small flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, especially ï¼› a flounder.
2. (US) A sand dab, a small flatfish of genus .

Anagrams

• ABD, ADB, bad, BDA, dba, DBA, D.B.A.