dab
verb /dæb/
/dæb/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they dab | /dæb/ /dæb/ |
| he / she / it dabs | /dæbz/ /dæbz/ |
| past simple dabbed | /dæbd/ /dæbd/ |
| past participle dabbed | /dæbd/ /dæbd/ |
| -ing form dabbing | /ˈdæbɪŋ/ /ˈdæbɪŋ/ |
- to touch something lightly, usually several times
- dab something She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose.
- dab at something He dabbed at the cut with his handkerchief.
- dab something + adv./prep. to put something on a surface with quick light movements
- She dabbed a little perfume behind her ears.
Word Originverb Middle English: symbolic of a light striking movement; compare with dabble.