dab

views updated May 29 2018

dab1 / dab/ • v. (dabbed , dab·bing ) [tr.] 1. press against (something) lightly with absorbent material in order to clean or dry it: he dabbed his mouth with his napkin | [intr.] she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. ∎  apply (a substance) with light quick strokes. 2. aim at or strike with a light blow.• n. a small amount of something: she licked a dab of chocolate from her finger. ∎  a brief application of cosmetic, paint, or the like to a surface: apply concealer with light dabs. dab2 • n. a small flatfish (Limanda and other genera, family Pleuronectidae, and genus Citharichthys, family Bothidae), found chiefly in the North Atlantic.

dab

views updated May 14 2018

dab 1 (dial.) strike with a sharp blow XIV; strike with soft pressure XVI. Rare before XVI, when there may have been a fresh formation, but perh. in continuous use from early times; of imit. orig., but cf. DABBLE.

DAB

views updated May 18 2018

DAB daily audience barometer
• Deutsches Apothekerbuch (German Pharmacopoeia)
• (ital.) Dictionary of American Biography
• digital audio broadcasting

dab

views updated May 23 2018

dab 3 adept, expert. XVII. of unkn. orig.
Hence synon. dabster XVIII.

dab

views updated May 18 2018

dab 2 small flatfish. XV. of unkn. orig.