daub

[ dawb ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or coat with soft, adhesive matter, as plaster or mud:

   to daub a canvas with paint; to daub stone walls with mud.

2. to spread (plaster, mud, etc.) on or over something:

   to daub plaster on a brick wall.

3. to smear, soil, or defile.
4. to apply, as paint or colors, unskillfully.

verb (used without object)

1. to daub something.
2. to paint unskillfully.

noun

1. material, especially of an inferior kind, for daubing walls.
2. something daubed on.
3. an act of daubing.
4. a crude, inartistic painting.

daub

/ dɔːb /

verb

1. tr to smear or spread (paint, mud, etc), esp carelessly
2. tr to cover or coat (with paint, plaster, etc) carelessly
3. to paint (a picture) clumsily or badly

noun

1. an unskilful or crude painting
2. something daubed on, esp as a wall covering See also wattle and daub
3. a smear (of paint, mud, etc)
4. the act of daubing

Derived Forms

• ˈdauber, noun
• ˈdauby, adjective

Other Words From

• dauber noun
• daubing·ly adverb
• dauby adjective
• un·daubed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of daub¹

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English dauben < Anglo-French, Old French dauber to whiten, paint < Latin dealbāre, equivalent to de-, prevocalic variant of dē- de- + albāre to whiten, derivative of albus white; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of daub¹

C14: from Old French dauber to paint, whitewash, from Latin dealbāre, from albāre to whiten, from albus white

Example Sentences

In his new book "The Cancel Culture Panic: How an American Obsession Went Global," Stanford professor Adrian Daub argues that the hysterics over this alleged trend amount to a moral panic.

From Salon

Daub spoke with Salon about his book and whether it's "politically correct" to want your bánh mì to taste like a real bánh mì.

From Salon

Each death is a daub of paint on a vast canvas, but for the bereaved, each opens up a gaping chasm of grief.

From Los Angeles Times

They're checking that their daub of Harry Kane, envisaged to occupy an entire wall, is complete.

From BBC

Collage may indicate motion in Furey’s work, as in two pictures of dancers whose bodies are covered in patterns, whether more flower photos or rendered with line and daub.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• dab
• deface
• smear
• smudge
• spatter