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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dabble in a sentence
A former football player at Virginia’s Liberty University, the conservative evangelical institution, Council appears to have dabbled in politics, as well.
Here are some of the people charged since a mob breached the Capitol | Washington Post Staff | January 15, 2021 | Washington PostHe avoids red meat, seldom snacks and has dabbled in fasting, which has been shown in animal models to boost memory.
Hedge funds and wealthy individuals have dabbled in them for years in an effort to beat the market.
Indiegogo founder launches Vincent, a site to discover alternative investments | Jeff | December 8, 2020 | FortuneWalgreens is dabbling with numerous partnerships to add items like groceries and mobile phones to its stores.
Amazon Pharmacy is live: Shoppers can now order prescriptions directly through the tech giant | Rachel Schallom | November 17, 2020 | FortuneSoto, listed above in left field, dabbled in right this past September.
What’s missing from the Nationals’ roster? Here’s an early look. | Jesse Dougherty | November 6, 2020 | Washington Post
In Dornan's telling, Clinton was a "self-indulgent hedonist and phony," a dabbler in drugs, a letch.
Unfortunate Dabbler, now upon his mettle, declared that "should he ever want satisfaction, his solicitor should get it for him."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsNow Dabbler was a widower; he was not of prepossessing appearance, and his h's troubled him, but Dabbler was a warm man.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James Wills"To dance implies that a man is glad," and Dabbler was a cheerful-minded fellow enough, but no lady danced with him a second time.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsBut he did not give in without a struggle, and he fought loyally for the absent Dabbler, but the girls were inexorable.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsJoe hated Raymond Copley with all the contempt that an old sportsman has for an ignorant dabbler in the great game.
Hard Pressed | Fred M. White
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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