US /dæb/ UK /dæb/
verb noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to press lightly with something soft; a small quantity

    She dabbed a little ointment on the wound.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to press lightly with... pattapblotdaubtouchsmear
Word family
Derived forms dabberdabbing
Related forms daubdabble

Etymology

From Middle English dabben ('to strike'), of uncertain origin, probably imitative; the noun sense 'small quantity' developed from the verb.

Topics

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