Meaning of dab | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Initialism of digital audio broadcasting.
   abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
2. Initialism of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (a pro-Beijing political party in the HKSAR).
   Hong-Kong, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
3. One who is skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.
4. A small flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, especially Limanda limanda; a flounder.
5. A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow.
6. A sand dab, a small flatfish of genus Citharichthys.
   US
7. A soft, playful box given in greeting or approval.
8. A small amount, a blob of some soft or wet substance.
9. A small amount of hash oil.
   slang
10. Fingerprint.
    British, dated, in-plural
11. 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.
12. A dabbler.
    obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“I promise you nothing,' said the dolls' dressmaker, dabbing two dabs at him with her needle, as if she put out both his eyes.”

““It was the most absurd kiss. I don't believe he'd ever kissed a woman in his life before. I threw my head back, and it was a sort of slidy, pecking dab, just on the end of the chin — here.” Mrs. Hauksbee tapped her masculine little chin with her fan.”

“Then the minute feet made feeble dabs, or stabs, at the atmosphere; the tiny fists doubled themselves and wandered to and fro as if in search of the enemy.”

“She gave a few more dabs to his buttocks. “There. By the time you've made love to me those weals will have dried up.””

“The men gave each other dabs and another bear hug.”

“I step closer to Profit and draw in a deep, steadying breath while the brothers exchange dabs. “What's up, fam? I see you finally made it.””

“a dab of glue”

“One had Glash's dabs on it and a half-inch of Macallan at the bottom.”

“for little Urchin as he is, he‘s ſuch a Dab at his Bow and Arrows‘ that ne‘re a Finsbury Archer of ‘em all can pretend to come near him.”

“Dab, c. expert exquiſite in Roguery a Rumdab, c. a very Dextrous fellow at fileing , thieving, Cheating, Sharping, sc. Heii a Dab at it, He is well vers'd in it.”

“One excels at a plan or the title page, another works away at the body of the book, and the third is a dab at an index.”

“I hope he will like my answer; it is as good a one as I can write though nothing to his; Indeed I had always heard what a dab he was at a Love-letter.”

““[…]’S’pose they’re ridin’ Vidley’s ponies?” “De Vitré’s sure to be. He’s a dab on a horse.[…]””

CEFR level