dab

See also DAB, dåb, and dąb

English

Wikipedia

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dæb/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æb

Etymology 1

From Middle English dabbe, from possibly imitative.

Verb

dab (third-person singular simple present dabs, present participle dabbing, simple past and past participle dabbed)

1. (transitive) To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing.

   I dabbed my face with a towel.

2. (transitive) To apply a substance in this way.

   He dabbed moisturizing liquid on his face.

Translations

softly tap

• Bulgarian: потупвам (bg) (potupvam)

• Mandarin: 輕觸 (cmn)

apply softly tapping

• Bulgarian: цапвам (bg) (capvam), мацвам (bg) (macvam)

• Mandarin: 敷 (cmn)

Noun

dab (plural dabs)

1. A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow.
   • 1865, Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend:

     I promise you nothing,' said the dolls' dressmaker, dabbing two dabs at him with her needle, as if she put out both his eyes.

   • 1917, Robert Hichens, In the Wilderness:

     Then the minute feet made feeble dabs, or stabs, at the atmosphere; the tiny fists doubled themselves and wandered to and fro as if in search of the enemy.

2. (African American Vernacular) A soft, playful box given in greeting or approval.
   • 2006, Greta X, Angela Pearson, Whipsdom, page 75:

     She gave a few more dabs to his buttocks. “There. By the time you've made love to me those weals will have dried up.”

   • 2010, Adrianne Byrd, Body Heat, page 177:

     The men gave each other dabs and another bear hug.

   • 2010, De'nesha Diamond, Hustlin' Divas, page 220:

     Python snickers while he gives Rufus dabs. “Do you,nigga. Do you.” That shit just makes Rufus's lips stretch wider. “You see this, Peaches? This is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval right here.”

     page 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 plural, dated, UK) Fingerprint.

Coordinate terms

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

Related terms

• dob

Translations

soft tap

• Bulgarian: потупване (bg) (potupvane) n
• Finnish: nokare (fi)

• Greek: άγγιγμα (el) (agigma)
• Swedish: dutta (sv)

small amount, blob

• Bulgarian: мазка (bg) (mazka) f
• Finnish: tippa (fi)

• Greek: μικροποσότητα (mikroposotita) f
• Swedish: klick (sv) c

fingerprint — see fingerprint

Adverb

dab (not comparable)

1. With a dab, or sudden contact.

Translations

with a dab

Etymology 2

This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.

Noun

dab (plural dabs)

1. One skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:skilled person

Translations

one skilful or proficient, an expert, an adept

• Bulgarian: майстор (bg) (majstor) m, специалист (bg) (specialist) m
• Greek: μάστορας (el) (mastoras) m

• Mandarin: 高手 (cmn)
• Swedish: baddare (sv) c

Derived terms

• dab hand

Etymology 3

Origin unknown.

Noun

dab (plural dabs)

1. A small flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, especially Limanda limanda； a flounder.
2. A sand dab.

Translations

flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae

• Bulgarian: писия (bg) (pisija) f
• Greek: λιμάνδη η κοινή (limandi i kini) f

• Jèrriais: cat m
• Mandarin: 比目魚 (cmn), 黃蓋鰈 (cmn)

References

• Oxford English Dictionary (1989)

Anagrams

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

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Lojban

Rafsi

dab

1. rafsi of damba.