dab
[verb]
Synonyms:
- pat, daub, stipple, tap, touch
[noun]
Synonyms:
- spot, bit, drop, pat, smudge, speck
- pat, flick, stroke, tap, touch

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

DAB /ˌdiː eɪ ˈbiː/ noun [uncountable]
(digital audio broadcasting) a system of broadcasting radio programmes using digital technology

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. dab¹ /dæb/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: From the sound of hitting something]

1. a small amount of something that you put onto a surface
dab of
a dab of butter

2. a light touch with your hand, a cloth etc:
She wiped her tears away with a dab of her handkerchief.

3. be a dab hand at/with something British English informal to be very good at a particular activity

4. a small flat fish

5. dabs [plural] British English old-fashioned your fingerprints

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. dab² verb (past tense and past participle dabbed, present participle dabbing)

1. [intransitive and transitive] to touch something lightly several times, usually with something such as a cloth:
She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
dab at
He dabbed at his bleeding lip.

2. [transitive] to put a substance onto something with quick light movements of your hand
dab something on/onto etc something
She dabbed some cream on her face.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

dab
̈ɪdæb
See: smack-dab or smack-to dab

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲