dab

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing.
2. (transitive) To apply a substance in this way.
3. To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust.
4. (slang) To apply hash oil to a heated surface for the purpose of efficient combustion.
5. (intransitive) To perform the dab dance move; to move both arms, parallel with one's head, to either side of the body.
6. Synonym of daub (to mark a bingo card)

Noun

1. A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow.
2. A soft, playful box given in greeting or approval.
3. A small amount, a blob of some soft or wet substance.
4. (slang) A small amount, a blob of some soft or wet substance.
5. (British, dated, in-plural) Fingerprint.
6. A hip hop dance move in which the dancer simultaneously drops the head while raising an arm, briefly resting their face in the elbow, as if sneezing into their elbow.
7. (obsolete) A dabbler.

Adv

With a dab, or sudden contact.

Noun

One who is skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.

Noun

1. A small flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, especially Limanda limanda; a flounder.
2. (US) A sand dab, a small flatfish of genus Citharichthys.

Adj

Bad.

Synonyms

pat

thrust

tap

smear

daub

touch

splash

expert

stroke

job

blot

swob

swab

master

dabble

flip

flounder

splatter

peck

bit

drop

minim

morsel

overlay

paint

pet

pinch

rub

scintilla

shred

slap

smattering

smearing

snip

speck

spot

spread

sprinkling

stab

stick

stipple

strike

thimbleful

tincture

tip

trifle

light touch

wipe dry

apply lightly

press gently

Translations

limande

Kliesche

toque

Scharbe

golpecito

Tupfer

untar

schar

tapoter

μάστορας

μικροποσότητα

touche

απαλό κτύπημα

Klaps

copet

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dæb/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: dabben

Cognate with Icelandic: dabba

Cognate with Middle Dutch: dabben

Cognate with Dutch: dabben

Cognate with Dutch: deppen

Cognate with German: tappen

Inherited from Middle English: dabbe

In summary

From Middle English dabben (“to strike”), probably of North Germanic origin, related to Old Icelandic dabba (“to tap, slap”), perhaps ultimately imitative. Compare also with Middle Dutch dabben (“to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble”) (Dutch dabben (“(of a horse) to stamp with the forelegs”)), Dutch deppen (“to dab”), possibly German tappen (“to fumble, grope”).
The noun is from Middle English dabbe (“a strike, blow”), from the verb. Related to tap. Compare also drub, dub.
African-American sense of “playful box” perhaps influenced by dap (“fistbump”).