dabble

Everyday

1. To try an activity a little, as a hobby, without being very serious about it, as in «dabble in painting». tree →
2. To move your hands or feet gently in water, splashing a bit. tree →
3. (of ducks) To feed by tipping forward to reach food in shallow water. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «dabble in» means having a go at a hobby. In nature lessons, «dabbling ducks» like mallards tip up to eat. In stories, a character dabbling their toes in a stream shows a calm, lazy moment. Phrases: «dabble in», «dabble with», «dabble your feet».

Examples

• My dad dabbles in photography at weekends. tree →
• We dabbled our toes in the cool stream. tree →
• Mallards are dabbling ducks that tip upside down to feed. tree →
• She dabbled with the guitar before choosing the drums. tree →
• The wizard had dabbled in magic he did not understand. tree →
• I only dabble in cooking, but I can make pancakes. tree →
• Then, going a little farther, Ceres would, perhaps, come to a fountain, gushing out of a pebbly hollow in the earth, and would dabble with her hand in the water. tree →

Note

Regular verb, double b: dabbled, dabbling. «A dabbler» is someone who tries many things lightly. Not the same as «dribble» or «babble».