A Topical Dictionary: Search for dabble

Dictionary Results For "dabble" [?]/[OPML]

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English

Pronunciation

An audio transcript can be found at en-us-dabble.ogg

Etymology

From {{term|dab||lang=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, but not so seriously.
:She's an actress by trade, but has been known to dabble in poetry.

Derived terms

Translations

Chinese: 溅湿
Dutch: ,

Chinese: 涉足
Dutch:

fa:dabble io:dabble fi:dabble te:dabble vi:dabble zh:dabble

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Dabble \Dab"ble\ (d[a^]b"b'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dabbled
(d[a^]b"b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Dabbling (d[a^]b"bl[i^]ng).]
[Freq. of dab: cf. OD. dabbelen.]
To wet by little dips or strokes; to spatter; to sprinkle; to
moisten; to wet. "Bright hair dabbled in blood." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Dabble \Dab"ble\, v. i.
1. To play in water, as with the hands; to paddle or splash
in mud or water.
[1913 Webster]

Where the duck dabbles 'mid the rustling sedge.
--Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]

2. To work in slight or superficial manner; to do in a small
way; to tamper; to meddle. "Dabbling here and there with
the text." --Atterbury.
[1913 Webster]

During the first year at Dumfries, Burns for the
first time began to dabble in politics. --J. C.
Shairp.
[1913 Webster]

WordNet dabble
v 1: dip a foot or hand briefly into a liquid
2: play in or as if in water, as of small children [syn: paddle,
splash around]
3: work with in a non-serious manner; "She dabbles in
astronomy"; "He plays around with investments bu he never
makes any money" [syn: smatter, play around]