verb Uncommon

dab

Dab (verb) means to touch something lightly and repeatedly with a soft object, without rubbing. Example: “She dabbed the cut with a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic.”

verb

To touch something lightly and repeatedly with a soft object, without rubbing.

"She dabbed the cut with a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic."

"He dabbed at his eyes with a tissue, trying not to cry."

To perform the "dab," a dance move where you drop your head and raise an arm, resting your face in the crook of your elbow.

"The kids all dabbed for the camera at the school assembly."

noun

A small amount of something soft or wet.

"Add just a dab of glue to hold the corners in place."

How to use dab

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo touch lightly and quickly, or a small blob of something — plus, more recently, a viral dance move.

Common mistake

The dance-move and drug-related slang senses ("do a dab" of concentrated cannabis) are very different from the everyday "small amount / light touch" meaning — context makes it clear which is meant.

Common pairings

dab of paint dab it with a cloth do a dab

Word forms

more dab comparative, dabbed past tense, dabs plural, dabs plural, dabs plural, dabs singular, most dab superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Add just a _____ of glue to hold the corners in place.

Etymology

From Middle English dabben, "to strike," probably of Germanic origin — related to Old Icelandic and Dutch words meaning to tap or slap.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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pat tap splash swab splatter swob

Related words

hit touch click strike pink knock pat tap

Frequently asked questions

What does “dab” mean?

The word “dab” means to touch something lightly and repeatedly with a soft object, without rubbing. In plain terms, to touch lightly and quickly, or a small blob of something — plus, more recently, a viral dance move.

How do you pronounce “dab”?

“Dab” is pronounced dab (/dæb/ in IPA).

How do you use “dab” in a sentence?

Here is “dab” used in a sentence: “She dabbed the cut with a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic.”

What part of speech is “dab”?

Depending on how it is used, “dab” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “dab” come from?

The word “dab” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dabben, "to strike," probably of Germanic origin — related to Old Icelandic and Dutch words meaning to tap or slap.

Is “dab” a common word?

“Dab” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “dab” have?

“Dab” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to touch something lightly and repeatedly with a soft object, without rubbing.

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hit touch click strike pink knock pat tap