dabble
[ dab-uhl ]
/ ˈdæb əl /
verb (used without object), dab·bled, dab·bling.
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.
verb (used with object), dab·bled, dab·bling.
to wet slightly in or with a liquid; splash; spatter.
Chiefly South Midland U.S. to wash or rinse off lightly.
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OTHER WORDS FROM dabble
dabbler, noundab·bling·ly, adverbun·dab·bled, adjectiveWords nearby dabble
da, dab, dabba, dabber, dabbing, dabble, dabbling duck, dabchick, dab hand, Dąbrowa Górnicza, dabster
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for dabble
British Dictionary definitions for dabble
dabble
/ (ˈdæbəl) /
verb
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 smearhis face was dabbled with paint
Derived forms of dabble
dabbler, nounWord Origin for dabble
C16: probably from Dutch dabbelen; see dab 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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