Dab: meaning, definitions and examples

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dab

[ dæb ]

Verb / Noun

^{Context #1 | Verb}

dance move

To perform a dance move by dropping the head while raising an arm and the elbow on one side.

Synonyms

dance move, move.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
dab	A popular dance move where you drop your head into the crook of one arm while raising the opposite arm dramatically. This has a playful and often youthful connotation. He did a dab while celebrating his victory. The kids love doing the dab during parties.
dance move	A specific motion or sequence of motions executed during a dance. This has a neutral connotation and is used to describe any type of dance action. She practiced the new dance move for hours. His dance moves were the highlight of the evening.
move	A general word for any action or maneuver, particularly in dance or sports. Its connotation can vary depending on the context but is generally neutral. The soccer player made a swift move to avoid the defender. Her new move in the dance routine wowed the audience.

Word

Description / Examples

dab

A popular dance move where you drop your head into the crook of one arm while raising the opposite arm dramatically. This has a playful and often youthful connotation.

He did a dab while celebrating his victory.
The kids love doing the dab during parties.

dance move

A specific motion or sequence of motions executed during a dance. This has a neutral connotation and is used to describe any type of dance action.

She practiced the new dance move for hours.
His dance moves were the highlight of the evening.

move

A general word for any action or maneuver, particularly in dance or sports. Its connotation can vary depending on the context but is generally neutral.

The soccer player made a swift move to avoid the defender.
Her new move in the dance routine wowed the audience.

Examples of usage

He dabbed on the dance floor.
She dabbed to the beat of the music.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

drug use

A small amount of a substance, especially in drug use.

Synonyms

drop, small amount.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
dab	Use it when you want to describe applying a small amount of a substance, usually in a gentle or quick way. She put a dab of paint on the canvas He used a dab of lotion on his skin
small amount	Appropriate when talking about a small quantity of almost any substance or item, optionally for more formal or general contexts. A small amount of sugar was required for the recipe She took a small amount of medicine
drop	Ideal for describing a small quantity of liquid, usually referring to individual droplets. Add a drop of lemon juice to the tea A drop of rain fell on her forehead

Word

Description / Examples

dab

Use it when you want to describe applying a small amount of a substance, usually in a gentle or quick way.

She put a dab of paint on the canvas
He used a dab of lotion on his skin

small amount

Appropriate when talking about a small quantity of almost any substance or item, optionally for more formal or general contexts.

A small amount of sugar was required for the recipe
She took a small amount of medicine

drop

Ideal for describing a small quantity of liquid, usually referring to individual droplets.

Add a drop of lemon juice to the tea
A drop of rain fell on her forehead

Examples of usage

He took a dab of the substance.
She only needed a dab to feel the effects.

Translations

Translations of the word "dab" in other languages:

🇵🇹 toque leve

batida leve
movimento rápido

🇮🇳 हल्का सा छूना

हल्की थपकी
त्वरित गति

🇩🇪 leichtes Klopfen

schneller Schlag
Berührung

🇮🇩 sentuhan ringan

ketukan ringan
gerakan cepat

🇺🇦 легкий дотик

легкий удар
швидкий рух

🇵🇱 lekkie dotknięcie

lekkie uderzenie
szybki ruch

🇯🇵 軽いタッチ

軽い打撃
速い動き

🇫🇷 léger toucher

légère tape
mouvement rapide

🇪🇸 toque ligero

golpe ligero
movimiento rápido

🇹🇷 hafif dokunuş

hafif vuruş
hızlı hareket

🇰🇷 가벼운 터치

가벼운 타격
빠른 움직임

🇸🇦 لمسة خفيفة

ضربة خفيفة
حركة سريعة

🇨🇿 lehké dotek

lehký úder
rychlý pohyb

🇸🇰 ľahký dotyk

ľahký úder
rýchly pohyb

🇨🇳 轻触

轻击
快速动作

🇸🇮 lahek dotik

lahek udarec
hiter premik

🇮🇸 létt snerting

létt högg
hröð hreyfing

🇰🇿 жеңіл түрту

жеңіл соққы
жылдам қозғалыс

🇬🇪 მსუბუქი შეხება

მსუბუქი დარტყმა
სწრაფი მოძრაობა

🇦🇿 yüngül toxunuş

yüngül zərbə
sürətli hərəkət

🇲🇽 toque ligero

golpe ligero
movimiento rápido

Etymology

The term 'dab' originated as a dance move in the hip-hop culture in the 2010s. It gained popularity through social media and became a viral trend. The usage of 'dab' expanded to other contexts, such as drug use, to refer to a small amount of a substance. The word 'dab' has evolved to have multiple meanings and is commonly used in informal settings.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,553, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
25550 truancy
25551 conceptualizing
25552 squashed
25553 dab
25554 rapist
25555 scoff
25556 faked
...