dabble
to play and splash in or as if in water, especially with the hands.
to work at anything in an irregular or superficial manner: to dabble in literature.
(of a duck) to feed on shallow-water vegetation with rapid, splashing movements of the bill.
to wet slightly in or with a liquid; splash; spatter.
Chiefly South Midland U.S. to wash or rinse off lightly.
Origin of dabble
1Other words for dabble
Other words from dabble
- dabbler, noun
- dab·bling·ly, adverb
- un·dab·bled, adjective
Words Nearby dabble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dabble in a sentence
Steve Graham had dabbled in breaking in college in the early 1980s.
How break dancing made the leap from ’80s pop culture to the Olympic stage | Rick Maese | February 9, 2021 | Washington PostWe’ve dabbled in products before with Kraft Heinz and our Ssam Sauce.
Momofuku’s David Chang on the big changes the restaurant industry needs to make to survive | Beth Kowitt | September 14, 2020 | FortuneIn a recent widely-shared essay about those dabbling in Robinhood options, veteran trader Ranjan Roy referred to them as “the gravy” for the rest of the industry.
‘Going to Vegas:’ Newbie options traders face a reckoning as the tech stock rally fades | Jeff | September 14, 2020 | FortuneIn the 10 years since Bitcoin came on the financial scene, central banks have quietly been dabbling in digital currencies of their own.
Like other major video streaming sites around the world, Kuaishou and iQiyi have dabbled in making augmented reality content, and securing a hardware partner will no doubt be instrumental to their early experiments.
Qualcomm-powered Chinese XR startup Nreal raises $40 million | Rita Liao | September 4, 2020 | TechCrunch
Then, about five years ago, I had this urge to dabble with it again.
Stephen Merchant Talks ‘Hello Ladies’ movie, the Nicole Kidman Cameo, and Legacy of ‘The Office’ | Marlow Stern | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor gay or straight performers, and those who dabble in both, there's no industry standard for safety.
Risky Business or None of Your Business? Gay XXX Films and the Condom Question | Aurora Snow | November 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDid you dabble in a bit of liquid courage before your Sin City dance scenes?
Jessica Alba on 'Sin City,' Typecasting, and How Homophobia Pushed Her Away From the Church | Marlow Stern | August 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the interim, Herring took a short break from the band to dabble in his side-project—rapping under the moniker Hemlock Ernst.
Future Islands Frontman Samuel T. Herring on Their 11-Year Journey to Letterman and Viral Stardom | Marlow Stern | April 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHourani began to dabble with a myriad of artistic careers, from model scouting to styling to art direction.
Rad Hourani, The First Unisex Couture Designer | Erin Cunningham | January 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI suppose it is the inevitable doom of all those who dabble in Scotch soil; but really your fate is the more blessed.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis StevensonThe earlier alchemists knew nothing of its theosophic doctrines; and the earlier Rosicrucians did not dabble in alchemy.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport AdamsIt is our desire to state at the start that this paper does not intend to dabble in the muddy pool of politics.
Emmy Lou | George Madden MartinAlso Marion got a spaniel and began to dabble with the minor arts, with poker-work and a Kodak and hyacinths in glasses.
Tono Bungay | H. G. WellsHe took off his linen painting sleeves, and began to dabble his fingers in a pan of turpentine.
Olive in Italy | Moray Dalton
British Dictionary definitions for dabble
/ (ˈdæbəl) /
to dip, move, or splash (the fingers, feet, etc) in a liquid
(intr; usually foll by in, with, or at) to deal (with) or work (at) frivolously or superficially; play (at)
(tr) to daub, mottle, splash, or smear: his face was dabbled with paint
Origin of dabble
1Derived forms of dabble
- dabbler, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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