daub

1 of 2

verb

ˈdȯb 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• befoul
• begrime
• bemire
• besmirch
• blacken
• dirty
• distain [archaic]
• foul
• gaum [dialect]
• grime
• mire
• muck
• muddy
• smirch
• smudge
• soil
• stain
• sully

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

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

Phrases Containing daub

• wattle and daub

Kids Definition

daub

1 of 2 verb

ˈdȯb 

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