The meaning of Dabs

verb

Make a formal application or request.

Usage examples:

You need to apply to the local authority for a grant

verb

Smear or daub with a sticky substance.

Usage examples:

A dozen maidens, all bedaubed with paint

verb

To cover something very roughly with something sticky or dirty

Usage examples:

The child's face was bedaubed with chocolate.

noun

A small piece, part, or quantity of something.

Usage examples:

Give the duck a bit of bread

verb

Past of bite.

verb

Put a bit into the mouth of (a horse).

Usage examples:

However, they can experience behavioral problems when ridden, many coming back to bad experiences w…

noun

A dark mark or stain made by ink, paint, dirt, etc.

Usage examples:

A blot of ink

verb

Dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material.

Usage examples:

Henry blotted the page

verb

To spoil a letter, drawing, etc. with scattered drops of ink

Usage examples:

I’ve spilled some coffee – can you bring me some paper towels to blot it up?, ink blots covered the…

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

verb

Carelessly coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

The walls were daubed with splashes of paint

noun

A patch or smear of a thick or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

A daub of paint

verb

(of a liquid) fall slowly in drops or a thin stream.

Usage examples:

Rain dribbled down the window

noun

A thin stream of liquid; a trickle.

Usage examples:

A dribble of blood

verb

To move or happen slowly in small amounts or a few at a time

Usage examples:

Customers dribbled in and out all day., juice dribbled down the baby’s chin., water leaked from the…

noun

A slight or indirect indication or suggestion.

Usage examples:

He has given no hint of his views

verb

Suggest or indicate something indirectly or covertly.

Usage examples:

The minister hinted at a possible change of heart

verb

Pass the tongue over (something) in order to taste, moisten, or clean it.

Usage examples:

He licked the stamp and stuck it on the envelope

noun

An act of licking something with the tongue.

Usage examples:

Sammy gave his fingers a lick

verb

Pass the tongue over

adjective

Small in size, amount, or degree (often used to convey an appealing diminutiveness or express an affectionate or condescending attitude).

Usage examples:

The plants will grow into little bushes

adverb

To a small extent.

Usage examples:

He reminded me a little of my parents

determiner & pronoun

A small amount of.

Usage examples:

We got a little help from a training scheme

noun

A small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable or valuable.

Usage examples:

His statement had a modicum of truth

noun

A small amount

Usage examples:

He achieved a modicum of success.

noun

An implement consisting of a bundle of thick loose strings or a sponge attached to a handle, used for wiping floors or other surfaces.

Usage examples:

One way of removing built up floor wax manually, is to mix detergent and ammonia with water and app…

verb

Clean or soak up liquid from (something) by wiping.

Usage examples:

She mopped the floor and cleaned out two cupboards

noun

An autumn fair or gathering at which farmhands and servants were hired.

Usage examples:

Combine these closures with the mop fair in the autumn and businesses are beginning to lose margins…

noun

A minute portion of matter.

Usage examples:

Tiny particles of dust

noun

An extremely small piece of something

Usage examples:

Dust particles

noun

A word or a part of a word that has a grammatical purpose but often has little or no meaning

Usage examples:

In the sentence "i tidied up the room", the adverb "up" is a particle.

verb

Touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.

Usage examples:

He patted him consolingly on the shoulder

noun

A quick, light touch with the hand.

Usage examples:

Giving him a friendly pat on the arm, she went off to join the others

adjective

Simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing.

Usage examples:

There are no pat answers to these questions

verb

Move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force.

Usage examples:

He pressed his face to the glass

noun

A device for applying pressure to something in order to flatten or shape it or to extract juice or oil.

Usage examples:

A flower press

noun

A forcible enlistment of men, especially for the navy.

Usage examples:

Any english-speaking, able-bodied, man on leave in a port might find himself swept up in the press.

verb

Coat or mark (something) messily or carelessly with a greasy or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

His face was smeared with dirt

noun

A mark or streak of a greasy or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

There was an oil smear on his jacket

verb

Smudge or soil by smudging

noun

A small amount of something.

Usage examples:

Add a smidgen of cayenne

noun

A very small amount

Usage examples:

I have a smidgen of hope that things will turn out all right.

verb

Cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it.

Usage examples:

She dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up

noun

A blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something.

Usage examples:

A smudge of blood on the floor

noun

A smoky outdoor fire that is lit to keep off insects or protect plants against frost.

Usage examples:

Discussions of the merits of various smudges at keeping bugs at bay

noun

A very small quantity of something.

Usage examples:

A soupçon of mustard

noun

A very small amount

Usage examples:

"milk in your coffee?" "just a soupçon, please.", do i detect a soupçon of sarcasm in what you just…

noun

A tiny spot.

Usage examples:

The figure in the distance had become a mere speck

verb

Mark with small spots.

Usage examples:

Their skin was specked with goose pimples

noun

A smoked ham of a type produced in north-eastern italy.

Usage examples:

Add the radicchio, thyme, speck, prosciutto, and chicken stock and cook for another eight to ten mi…

noun

A sound made by something striking or falling into liquid.

Usage examples:

We hit the water with a mighty splash

verb

Cause (liquid) to strike or fall on something in irregular drops.

Usage examples:

She splashed cold water on to her face

verb

To scatter liquid or to cause liquid to scatter through the air or onto something

Usage examples:

[ t ] she splashed her face with cold water., [ i ] kids love to splash around in mud puddles., a s…

noun

A small round or roundish mark, differing in colour or texture from the surface around it.

Usage examples:

Ladybirds have black spots on their red wing covers

verb

Short for spotlight.

verb

A point located with respect to surface features of some region

verb

Open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length.

Usage examples:

I spread a towel on the sand and sat down

noun

The fact or process of spreading over an area.

Usage examples:

Warmer temperatures could help reduce the spread of the disease

verb

Distribute or disperse widely

verb

Cover (an object or surface) with small drops or particles of a substance.

Usage examples:

I sprinkled the floor with water

noun

A small quantity or amount of something scattered over an object or surface.

Usage examples:

A generous sprinkle of pepper

verb

(in drawing, painting, and engraving) mark (a surface) with numerous small dots or specks.

Usage examples:

To finish, stipple the picture with the original base colour

noun

The process or technique of stippling a surface, or the effect so created.

Usage examples:

These pictures combine his favourite techniques—wash, line, and stipple

verb

To draw or paint something using small spots or marks

Usage examples:

She tried to create the impression of strong sunlight by stippling the canvas in yellow and white.,…

noun

An act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow.

Usage examples:

He received three strokes of the cane

verb

Move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress.

Usage examples:

He put his hand on her hair and stroked it

verb

A single complete movement

noun

An idea or plan put forward for consideration.

Usage examples:

Here are some suggestions for tackling the problem

noun

An idea, possible plan, or action that is mentioned for other people to consider

Usage examples:

[ c ] she made some helpful suggestions on how to cut our costs., [ c ] they didn’t like my suggest…

noun

An absorbent pad or piece of material, often on a stick or rod, used in surgery and medicine for cleaning wounds and skin, applying medication, or taking specimens.

Usage examples:

During the exam, your doctor may apply a cotton-tipped swab to the area to see if it is painful.

verb

An absorbent pad or piece of material used in surgery and medicine for cleaning wounds, applying medication, or taking specimens.

noun

A small piece of soft material at the end of a thin stick, used esp. for cleaning something or for putting on medicine

Usage examples:

A cotton swab

adverb

To a small extent; somewhat.

Usage examples:

Mark looked a tad embarrassed

noun

A small amount of something.

Usage examples:

Crumpets sweetened with a tad of honey

noun

A little bit; a small amount

Usage examples:

Those french fries were a tad greasy.

noun

The sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.

Usage examples:

The wine had a fruity taste

verb

Perceive or experience the flavour of.

Usage examples:

She had never tasted ice cream before

verb

The faculty of distinguishing sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties in the mouth

verb

Come into or be in contact with.

Usage examples:

He leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor

noun

An act of touching someone or something.

Usage examples:

Her touch on his shoulder was hesitant

verb

Make physical contact with, come in contact with

verb

Find or discover by investigation.

Usage examples:

Police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area

noun

A mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something.

Usage examples:

Remove all traces of the old adhesive

noun

Each of the two side straps, chains, or ropes by which a horse is attached to a vehicle that it is pulling.

Usage examples:

The horses pulling the carriage suddenly snapped the traces and bolted off

verb

(of a liquid) flow in a small stream.

Usage examples:

A solitary tear trickled down her cheek

noun

A small flow of liquid.

Usage examples:

A trickle of blood

verb

(of liquid) to flow slowly and without force

Usage examples:

Blood trickled from a cut in his forehead., after the hurricane, all the telephones were out, and i…

verb

Clean or dry (something) by rubbing with a cloth, a piece of paper, or one's hand.

Usage examples:

Paul wiped his face with a handkerchief

noun

Erase data from (a computer system or electronic or magnetic storage device).

Usage examples:

I discovered all of my hard drives had been wiped

verb

To slide something over the surface of something else, in order to remove dirt, food, or liquid

Usage examples:

Please wipe your feet before you come into the house., she gently wiped and cleaned her scraped kne…