English

Noun

daub ‎(countable and uncountable, plural daubs)

1. Excrement or clay used as a bonding material in construction (compare wattle and daub).
2. A soft coating of mud, plaster, etc.
3. A crude or amateurish painting.

Related terms

• (dab): dab, pat, splat

Translations

Verb

daub ‎(third-person singular simple present daubs, present participle daubing, simple past and past participle daubed)

1. (transitive) To apply (something) to a surface in hasty or crude strokes.

   The artist just seemed to daub on paint at random and suddenly there was a painting.

2. (transitive) To apply something to (a surface) in hasty or crude strokes.
   • Bible, Exodus ii. 3

     She took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch.

3. (transitive) To paint (a picture, etc.) in a coarse or unskilful manner.
   • I. Watts

     If a picture is daubed with many bright and glaring colours, the vulgar admire it as an excellent piece.

   • Dryden

     a lame, imperfect piece, rudely daubed over

4. To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to conceal.
   • Shakespeare

     So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue.

5. To flatter excessively or grossly.
   • Smollett

     I can safely say, however, that, without any daubing at all, I am very sincerely your very affectionate, humble servant.

6. To put on without taste; to deck gaudily.
   • Dryden

     Let him be daubed with lace.

Translations

See also

• dab

Anagrams

• baud