dab

UK: 'DAB', 'dab': /ˈdæb/ US: /dæb/ ,(dab)

Inflections of 'dab' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

dabs

v 3rd person singular

dabbing

v pres p

dabbed

v past

dabbed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dab¹ /dæb/   v., dabbed, dab•bing, n. 
v. 

1. to pat or tap gently: [~ + object]
   I dabbed my eyes with a handkerchief.
   [ ~ + at + obj]:
   She dabbed at the stain on her dress.
2. [ ~ + obj] to apply (a substance) by light strokes:
   He dabbed some paint on the wall.
3. [ ~ + obj] to apply a moist substance onto:
   He dabbed the burn with some ointment.

n. [countable]

4. a quick or light pat, as with something soft:
   applied her makeup with a few quick dabs.
5. a small lump or quantity:
   a dab of rouge.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dab¹  (dab), v., dabbed, dab•bing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist:
   The child dabbed his eyes with the handkerchief.
2. to apply (a substance) by light strokes:
   He dabbed the ointment on the rash.
3. to strike, esp. lightly, as with the hand.
4. Building [Masonry.] to dress (stonework) with a pointed tool.
5. Dialect Terms [Western U.S.] to throw (a rope or line) in an effort to lasso or catch something:
   Joe dabbed his rope on the steer.

v.i. 

6. to strike lightly;
   make a dab;
   pat:
   She dabbed at the stain on her dress.

n. 

7. a quick or light blow;
   a pat, as with the hand or something soft.
8. a small moist lump or mass:
   a dab of butter.
9. a small quantity:
   a dab of powder.

• 1250–1300; Middle English dabben; compare Norwegian dabbe shuffle along, walk slowly, German Tappe pat, tappen to feel along, grope

Synonyms

• 8. pat, bit; dollop, smidgen.

dab²  (dab), n. 

1. Fish any of several flatfishes of the genus Limanda, esp. the European flatfish, L. limanda.

• perh. special use of dab¹ 1570–80

dab³  (dab), [Slang.]
n. 

1. Slang Terms Also called dab′ hand′. a person skilled in something;
   an expert.
2. Slang Terms an excellent or extraordinary person or thing.

adj. 

3. expert;
   excellent;
   extraordinary.

• of uncertain origin, originally 1685–95

DAB, 

1. Dictionary of American Biography.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dab / dæb/ verb (dabs, dabbing, dabbed)

1. to touch lightly and quickly
2. (transitive) to daub with short tapping strokes: to dab the wall with paint
3. (transitive) to apply (paint, cream, etc) with short tapping strokes

noun

1. a small amount, esp of something soft or moist
2. a small light stroke or tap, as with the hand
3. (often plural)
   a slang word for fingerprint
4. a gesture, performed as part of a celebration, in which one arm is angled across the upper chest while the other is extended parallel to the first arm, with the face turned to the bent elbow

Etymology: 14th Century: of imitative origin

dab / dæb/ noun

1. a small common European brown flatfish, Limanda limanda, covered with rough toothed scales: family Pleuronectidae: a food fish
2. (often plural) any of various other small flatfish, esp flounders

Etymology: 15th Century: from Anglo-French dabbe, of uncertain origin

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

DAB abbreviation

1. digital audio broadcasting