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Dab vs Dip - What's the difference?

dab | dip |

In transitive terms the difference between dab and dip

is that dab is to apply a substance in this way while dip is to perform (a bow or curtsey) by inclining the body.

As an adverb dab

is with a dab, or sudden contact.

As an initialism DAB

is digital audio broadcasting.

dab

English

(wikipedia dab)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Verb

(dabb)
  • To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing.
    • I dabbed my face with a towel.
  • * S. Sharp
    • A sore should only by dabbing it over with fine lint.
  • To apply a substance in this way.
    • He dabbed moisturizing liquid on his face.
  • To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust.
  • * Sir T. More
    • to dab him in the neck
  • To apply

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A soft tap or blow; a blow or peck from a bird's beak; an aimed blow.
  • *
  • *
  • (AAVE) A soft, playful given in greeting or approval.
  • *
  • *
  • *
    • page 197: I step closer to Profit and draw in a deep, steadying breath while the brothers exchange dabs . “What's up, fam? I see you finally made it.”
  • A small amount, a blob of some soft or wet substance.
  • (chiefly, in the plural, dated, British) Fingerprint.
  • A small amount of .
    • Coordinate terms
    * fistbump, high five
    Related terms
    * dob

    Adverb

    (-)
  • With a dab, or sudden contact.

    • Etymology 2

    Perhaps corrupted from adept.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One skilful or proficient; an expert; an adept.
  • * Goldsmith
    • One excels at a plan or the title page, another works away at the body of the book, and the third is a dab at an index.
    Synonyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * dab hand

    Etymology 3

    Origin unknown.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae, especially ? a flounder.
  • (US) A sand dab, a small flatfish of genus .

    • References

    * Oxford English Dictionary (1989)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    dip

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) dippen, from (etyl) dyppan, from (etyl) , Dutch dopen, German taufen.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A lower section of a road or geological feature.
    • There is a dip in the road ahead.
  • Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
  • The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
  • * Glover
    • the dip of oars in unison
  • A tank or trough where cattle or sheep are immersed in chemicals to kill parasites.
  • A dip stick.
  • A swim, usually a short swim to refresh.
    • I'm going for a dip before breakfast.
  • (colloquial, dated) A pickpocket.
  • * 1906 , Fred L. Boalt, " The Snitcher", McClure's Magazine v.26, p.633
    • The Moocher was a "dip " in a dilettante sort of way, and his particular graft was boarding street-cars with his papers and grabbing women's pocket-books.
  • A sauce for dipping.
    • This onion dip is just scrumptious.
  • (geology) The angle from horizontal of a planar geologic surface, such as a fault line.
  • (archaic) A dipped candle.
    • (Marryat)
    Derived terms
    * lucky dip

    Verb

    (dipp)
  • To lower into a liquid.
    • Dip your biscuit into your tea .
  • * 1897 , (Bram Stoker), (Dracula) Chapter 21
    • He dipped the end of a towel in cold water and with it began to flick him on the face, his wife all the while holding her face between her hands and sobbing in a way that was heart breaking to hear.
  • To immerse oneself; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
  • * Coleridge
    • The sun's rim dips ; the stars rush out.
  • (of a value or rate) To decrease slightly.
  • To lower a light's beam.
    • Dip your lights as you meet an oncoming car.
  • To lower (a flag), particularly a national ensign, to a partially hoisted position in order to render or to return a salute. While lowered, the flag is said to be “at the dip.” A flag being carried on a staff may be dipped by leaning it forward at an approximate angle of 45 degrees.
    • “The sailor rushed to the flag hoist to dip the flag in return.”
  • To treat cattle or sheep by immersion in chemical solution.
    • The farmer is going to dip the cattle today.
  • To use a dip stick to check oil level in an engine.
  • To consume snuff by placing a pinch behind the lip or under the tongue so that the active chemical constituents of the snuff may be absorbed into the system for their narcotic effect.
  • To immerse for baptism.
    • (Fuller)
  • * Charles Wheatly, A rational illustration of the Book of Common Prayer
    • during the reigns of King James and King Charles I, there were but very few children dipped in the font.
  • To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
  • * Milton
    • A cold shuddering dew / Dips me all o'er.
  • To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
  • * Dryden
    • He was dipt in the rebellion of the Commons.
  • To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; often with out .
    • to dip''' water from a boiler; to '''dip out water
  • To perform the action of plunging a dipper, ladle. etc. into a liquid or soft substance and removing a part.
  • * L'Estrange
    • Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot.
  • To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
  • * Dryden
    • Live on the use and never dip thy lands.
  • To perform (a bow or curtsey) by inclining the body.
  • To incline downward from the plane of the horizon.
    • Strata of rock dip .
    Derived terms
    * dipper * you don't dip your pen in company ink

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A foolish person.

    • Anagrams

    * ----