Pronunciation: /dæb/

Definitions of dab

noun a dance move popularized by the hip-hop culture, involving a gesture where one's head is lowered while raising an arm and the other arm is extended to the side

Example Sentences

A1 She used a dab of toothpaste on her toothbrush.

A2 He added a dab of ketchup to his fries.

B1 The chef carefully added a dab of sauce to the dish.

B2 She applied a dab of sunscreen to her nose before going outside.

C1 The artist used a dab of paint to create a beautiful masterpiece.

C2 He added a dab of cologne to his neck before heading out for the evening.

verb to press against something lightly with a piece of absorbent material

Example Sentences

A1 I dabbed my finger in the paint to make a fingerprint.

A2 She dabbed some perfume behind her ears before going out.

B1 The chef dabbed a little sauce on the plate to add flavor to the dish.

B2 He carefully dabbed the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection.

C1 The artist dabbed different colors onto the canvas to create a beautiful masterpiece.

C2 She skillfully dabbed the makeup on her face, creating a flawless look.

Examples of dab in a Sentence

formal The artist used a small brush to carefully dab paint onto the canvas.

informal She dabbed a little bit of perfume on her wrists before going out.

slang I saw him do a dab dance move at the party last night.

figurative She dabbed away tears as she listened to the emotional speech.

Grammatical Forms of dab

past tense

dabbed

plural

dabs

comparative

more dab

superlative

most dab

present tense

dabs

future tense

will dab

perfect tense

have dabbed

continuous tense

is dabbing

singular

dab

positive degree

dab

infinitive

to dab

gerund

dabbing

participle

dabbed

Origin and Evolution of dab

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'dab' originated from the Middle English word 'dabben' which meant to strike or touch lightly.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'dab' evolved to also refer to a small amount of something applied or touched lightly, such as a dab of paint or a dab of cream.