dab

verb
UK: /dæb/
US: /dæb/

  1. To press something gently with a soft material.

    1. She used a tissue to dab her eyes because she was crying.
    2. He had to dab the paint carefully onto the small canvas to avoid any smudges.

  2. To apply something lightly, often a liquid or cream.

    1. She dabbed perfume on her wrists before the party.
    2. I dab a bit of sunscreen on my nose to protect it from the sun.

  3. To touch something briefly and lightly.

    1. I will dab the screen with my finger to select the app.
    2. Just dab the bread in the sauce to taste the flavors of the herbs.

Synonyms

pat smudge touch speck smear
dab noun

  1. A small amount of something, usually a liquid or cream.

    1. She put a dab of lotion on her dry skin.
    2. He needed just a dab of glue to fix the broken piece of the toy.

  2. A gentle press or touch.

    1. He gave the dog a quick dab on the head.
    2. With a dab of his finger, he erased the mistake on the screen.
dab noun

  1. A dance move where you drop your head and raise one arm.

    1. He tried to do the dab at the party, but it looked awkward.
    2. The kids love to perform the dab when they hear their favorite song.
dab intransitive-verb

  1. To do the dance move where you drop your head and raise one arm.

    1. The player dabbed after scoring a touchdown in the game.
    2. She likes to dab in her TikTok videos because it's fun and popular.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "dab" in English means: To press something gently with a soft material., To apply something lightly, often a liquid or cream., To touch something briefly and lightly..

The phonetic transcription of "dab" is /dæb/ in British English and /dæb/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "dab": pat, smudge, touch, speck, smear.

Example usage of "dab": "She used a tissue to dab her eyes because she was crying.". More examples on the page.