noun
Common
Dave
dayv
Dave (noun) means a common short form of the male given name David. Example: “Everyone at the office just calls him Dave instead of David.”
noun
1
A common short form of the male given name David.
"Everyone at the office just calls him Dave instead of David."
verb
1
An archaic or dialectal word meaning to soothe, calm, or ease pain.
"The old remedy was said to dave the fever by morning."
How to use Dave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually just the everyday nickname for someone named David; rarely, an old word for calming or easing pain.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- daves
- Past tense
- daved
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Everyone at the office just calls him _____ instead of David.
Etymology
As a name, a shortened, informal form of David. The archaic verb sense comes from Middle English "deven," related to Old English "dēafian" ("to grow deaf") and Old Norse "deyfa" ("to numb, soothe"), the same root that gives us "deafen."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for Dave
See all rhymes for Dave →Frequently asked questions
What does “Dave” mean?
The word “Dave” means a common short form of the male given name David. In plain terms, usually just the everyday nickname for someone named David; rarely, an old word for calming or easing pain.
How do you pronounce “Dave”?
“Dave” is pronounced dayv (/deɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “Dave” in a sentence?
Here is “Dave” used in a sentence: “Everyone at the office just calls him Dave instead of David.”
What part of speech is “Dave”?
Depending on how it is used, “Dave” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Dave” come from?
The word “Dave” comes from Old English.
Is “Dave” a common word?
“Dave” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Dave” have?
“Dave” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a common short form of the male given name David.
What is 'Dave' short for?
Dave is the familiar short form of David, a male given name of Hebrew origin traditionally understood to mean 'beloved.' In the same way that Dan stands in for Daniel or Mike for Michael, Dave is used informally, while the full name David tends to appear in formal or official settings.
Is 'Dave' a formal name?
No. Dave is an informal, friendly nickname. On official documents, in professional introductions, or in formal writing, the full name David is normally used. Dave suits casual, everyday conversation, though many men named David happily go by Dave in almost every situation, formal ones included.
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