daub

1 of 2

verb

ˈdȯb How to pronounce daub (audio)
ˈdäb
daubed; daubing; daubs

transitive verb

1
: to cover or coat with soft adhesive matter : plaster
2
: to coat with a dirty substance
3
a
: to apply coloring material crudely to
b
: to apply (something, such as paint) crudely

intransitive verb

1
archaic : to put on a false exterior
2
: to apply colors crudely

daub

2 of 2

noun

1
: material used to daub walls
2
: an act or instance of daubing
3
: something daubed on : smear
4
: a crude picture

Examples of daub in a Sentence

Verb He daubed some cologne on his neck. Daub the potatoes with a little butter. Various political slogans had been daubed on the walls. He sighed deeply and daubed his eyes with a tissue. Noun She added a few daubs of color to the painting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Its conclusions, though daubed with Dickensian whimsy and child’s-eye uplift, are remarkably tough and unyielding. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024 In February, the University of Leeds’ Hillel House - the center for Jewish life on campus - was daubed with antisemitic graffiti. Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
One church staffer presses a Bible to her forehead while another daubs her stomach with a pocket-size vial of holy oil. Sam Kestenbaum, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2024 Much as the eye might want to blot out the offending image, Photoshop it out of existence and daub more verdancy onto this screen-saver panorama, the reality of human habitation, and its concomitant messiness, must be reckoned. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for daub 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French dauber

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of daub was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near daub

Cite this Entry

“Daub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daub. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

daub

1 of 2 verb
ˈdȯb How to pronounce daub (audio)
ˈdäb
1
: to cover with soft sticky matter : plaster
2
: to coat with a dirty substance
3
: to apply coloring material thickly and heavily to
dauber noun

daub

2 of 2 noun
1
: something daubed on
2
: a quickly and carelessly done picture

More from Merriam-Webster on daub

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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