dabble

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: babble, gabble, rabble, yabble, habble, jabble, dibble, drabble, cabble, wabble, mabble

Antonyms: babble, gabble, rabble, yabble, habble, jabble, dibble, drabble, cabble, wabble, mabble

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Verb

1. {{senseid|en|to bedabble or spatter}} {{lb|en|transitive}} To make [[slightly]] [[wet#Adjective|wet]] or [[soiled#Adjective|soiled]] by [[spatter#Verb|spattering]] or [[sprinkle#Verb|sprinkling]] a [[liquid#Noun|liquid]] (such as [[water#Noun|water]], [[mud]], or [[paint#Noun|paint]]) on it; to [[bedabble]]. {{defdate|from late 16th c.}}
2. {{senseid|en|to splash or paddle}} {{lb|en|transitive}} To cause [[splashing#Noun|splashing]] by moving a [[body part]] like a [[bill#Noun|bill]] or [[limb]] in soft mud, water, etc., often [[playfully]]; to [[play#Verb|play]] in [[shallow#Adjective|shallow]] water; to [[paddle#Verb|paddle]].
3. {{topics|en|Ornithology}} {{lb|en|intransitive|of waterfowl}} To [[feed]] without [[dive|diving]], by [[submerge|submerging]] the [[head]] and [[neck]] underwater to seek food, often also [[tip]]ping up the [[tail]] straight upwards above the water.
4. {{senseid|en|to participate casually}} {{lb|en|intransitive|figuratively}} To [[participate]] or have an [[interest#Noun|interest]] in an [[activity]] in a [[casual]] or [[superficial]] way.
5. {{senseid|en|to interfere or tamper with}} {{lb|en|intransitive|obsolete}} To [[interfere]] or [[meddle#Verb|meddle]] in; to [[tamper#Verb|tamper]] with.

Noun

1. A [[spattering#Noun|spattering]] or [[sprinkling#Noun|sprinkling]] of a [[liquid#Noun|liquid]].
2. An act of [[splashing#Noun|splashing]] in [[soft]] [[mud]], [[water#Noun|water]], etc.
3. An act of [[participation]] in an [[activity]] in a [[casual]] or [[superficial]] way.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.