dab
/dæb/verb
उच्चारण डैब
हल्के-हल्के थपथपाना, (कपड़े से) हल्के से पोंछना
Core wordPYP · asked 1 time
Asked in previous papers
as idiom
- 1
[T, I] ~ sth | ~ (at) sth
to touch something lightly and quickly, usually several times, especially with a cloth or something soft
हल्के-हल्के थपथपाना, (कपड़े से) हल्के से पोंछना
- She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
- He dabbed at the cut with cotton wool.
- He dabbed his forehead with a towel after the long run.
+ 2 more examples
- The nurse dabbed the wound gently with a cloth.
- Meera dabbed at the spill but only spread it further.
- 2
[T] ~ sth on/onto sth | ~ sth with sth
to put a small amount of something on a surface with quick light movements
हल्का-सा (थोड़ा) लगाना
- Radhika dabbed a little perfume on her wrists.
- Dab some cream on the burn.
- Dab a little oil on the hinge to stop the squeak.
+ 2 more examples
- He dabbed some paint on the corner of the canvas.
- Dab the lotion onto your skin and do not rub it.
- 1
[C] ~ (of sth)
a small amount of a substance that is put on a surface with a light quick movement
थोड़ी-सी मात्रा, (पेंट, क्रीम आदि की) हल्की थपकी
- a dab of paint
- a dab of butter
- Add a dab of ghee to the hot chapati.
+ 2 more examples
- The artist put a dab of white on the cloud.
- She added a dab of lipstick before leaving.
- 2
[C]
a light touch, usually with something soft
हल्की थपकी
- She gave her face a quick dab with a towel.
- She gave the stain a gentle dab with a damp cloth.
- A quick dab with a tissue removed the spot.
+ 2 more examples
- The doctor gave the cut a light dab with cotton.
- A gentle dab was enough to clean the screen.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
dab + sth + on / onto / at
Use dab with on or onto for putting something lightly on a surface, and at for touching it softly.
किसी चीज़ को हल्के से लगाने के लिए on या onto और हल्के से छूने के लिए at का प्रयोग होता है।
- She dabbed cream on the burn.
- He dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief.
dab + sth + with + cloth
Use with before the soft object that you touch lightly.
जिस नरम वस्तु से हल्का स्पर्श किया जाए, उससे पहले 'with' आता है।
- The nurse dabbed the wound with cotton wool.
- Radhika dabbed her forehead with a cloth.
a dab of + substance
As a noun, a dab of is a very small amount of something soft like paint, oil or cream.
Noun के रूप में 'a dab of' पेंट, तेल या क्रीम जैसी नरम वस्तु की बहुत थोड़ी मात्रा बताता है।
- Add a dab of butter to the hot chapati.
- A dab of perfume is enough.
be a dab hand at sth
This informal British idiom means to be very skilful at something.
इस अनौपचारिक British idiom का अर्थ किसी काम में बहुत कुशल होना है।
- My grandmother is a dab hand at making pickles.
+Collocations 4
dab + noun
a cutthe eyesa stainthe foreheada wound
- He dabbed the cut with antiseptic.
adverb + dab
lightlygentlyquicklycarefullyrepeatedly
- She gently dabbed the baby's face.
a dab of + noun
paintcreamgheeperfumeglue
- Put a dab of glue on each corner.
dab + at
dab at the staindab at the tearsdab at the sweatdab at the cut
- He dabbed at the tea stain on his shirt.
“More examples 5
- Radhika dabbed some kajal under her eyes.
राधिका ने आँखों के नीचे थोड़ा काजल लगाया।
- The mechanic dabbed a little oil on the hinge.
मिस्त्री ने कब्ज़े पर थोड़ा तेल लगा दिया।
- He dabbed his face with a towel after the match.
उसने मैच के बाद तौलिये से अपना चेहरा हल्के से पोंछा।
- Add a small dab of ghee to the khichdi.
खिचड़ी में घी की एक छोटी-सी बूँद डालें।
- She is a dab hand at drawing rangoli.
वह रंगोली बनाने में बहुत कुशल है।
!Common mistakes 2
✗ He dabbed the paint to the wall.
✓ He dabbed the paint on the wall.
Use on or onto for putting something lightly on a surface.
किसी सतह पर हल्के से कुछ लगाने के लिए on या onto आता है।
✗ She dabbed the wound by a cloth.
✓ She dabbed the wound with a cloth.
The instrument used is introduced by with, not by.
प्रयुक्त साधन से पहले 'with' आता है, 'by' नहीं।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
These verbs all mean touching a surface, but they differ in pressure and purpose.
ये verbs किसी सतह को छूने का अर्थ देते हैं, पर दबाव और उद्देश्य में अंतर है।
To touch lightly and quickly, often to wipe or apply something.
हल्के और तेज़ी से छूना, प्रायः पोंछने या लगाने के लिए।
- She dabbed her eyes.
To spread something sticky or oily carelessly over a surface.
चिपचिपी या तैलीय चीज़ को सतह पर लापरवाही से फैलाना।
- The baby smeared jam on the wall.
¶Idioms 1
be a dab hand (at sth/at doing sth)
(British, informal) to be very good at doing something
किसी काम में माहिर होना
- Radhika is a dab hand at making rangoli.
- My grandfather was a dab hand in the kitchen.