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Dabbed vs Dabbled - What's the difference?

dabbed | dabbled |

As verbs the difference between dabbed and dabbled

is that dabbed is past tense of dab while dabbled is past tense of dabble.

dabbed

English

Verb

(head)
  • (dab)

    • 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

    * ----

    dabbled

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (dabble)

    • dabble

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To partially wet (something) by splashing or dipping; connotes playfulness.
    • The children sat on the dock and dabbled their feet in the water.
  • To participate or have an interest in an activity, but in a casual or superficial way.
    • She's an actress by trade, but has been known to dabble in poetry.

    Derived terms

    * dabble in * dabbler

    See also

    * dribble