English Dictionary

Definition of “drab”

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1drab1 (dræbPronunciation for drab1) 

Definitions

adjective

Word forms: drabber, drabbest
  1. dull; dingy; shabby
  2. cheerless; dreary  ⇒ a drab evening 
  3. of the colour drab

noun

  1. a light olive-brown colour
  2. a fabric of a dull grey or brown colour

Alternative Forms

ˈdrably adverb ˈdrabness noun

Word Origin

C16: from Old French drap  cloth, from Late Latin drappus, perhaps of Celtic origin

2drab2 (dræbPronunciation for drab2) archaic 

Definitions

noun

  1. a slatternly woman
  2. a whore

verb

Word forms: drabs, drabbing, drabbed
  1. (intr) to consort with prostitutes

Word Origin

C16: of Celtic origin; compare Scottish Gaelic drabag

Translations

  • British English: drab Pronunciation for drab Something that is drab is dull and not attractive or exciting....his drab little office.dræb ADJECTIVE ...his drab little office.
  • Spanish: soso Pronunciation for soso adj sosa
  • French: fade Pronunciation for fade adj
  • German: trist Pronunciation for trist adj
  • Chinese: 单调乏味的Pronunciation for 单调乏味的 adj
  • Arabic: رَتِيبPronunciation for رَتِيب adj
  • Portuguese: monótonoPronunciation for monótono adj monótona
  • Russian: тускло-коричневыйPronunciation for тускло-коричневый adj тускло-коричневая
  • Croatian: bezličanPronunciation for bezličan adj bezlična
  • Czech: fádníPronunciation for fádní adj
  • Danish: tristPronunciation for trist adj
  • Dutch: kleurloosPronunciation for kleurloos adj
  • Finnish: tylsäPronunciation for tylsä adj
  • Greek: άχρωμοςPronunciation for άχρωμος adj άχρωμη
  • Italian: smortoPronunciation for smorto adj smorta
  • Japanese: さえないPronunciation for さえない adj
  • Korean: 칙칙한Pronunciation for 칙칙한 adj
  • Norwegian: trøstesløsPronunciation for trøstesløs adj
  • Polish: nudnyPronunciation for nudny adj nudna
  • Brazilian Portuguese: monótonoPronunciation for monótono adj monótona
  • European Spanish: soso Pronunciation for soso adj sosa
  • Swedish: tristPronunciation for trist adj
  • Thai: ไม่มีชีวิตชีวาPronunciation for ไม่มีชีวิตชีวา adj
  • Turkish: sıkıcıPronunciation for sıkıcı adj
  • Vietnamese: xám xịtPronunciation for xám xịt adj

Usage examples

  • Milton Karp stood up, one hand on the drab metal chair beside him.
    Telushkin, Josef, The Unorthodox Murder of Rabbi Moss (1986)
  • Annual sessions of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) have, traditionally, been drab affairs.
    Business Today (1999)
  • A string of drab flags down King William St which read ``Adelaide'.
    The Advertiser, Sunday Mail (2004)
  • He had vicious abuse hurled at him during United's drab goalless draw at Everton on Sunday.
    Sun, News of the World (2002)
  • Conversely, the creative, inspired and complicated Gemini can spice up the sometimes drab dependability of the Taurus Moon.
    Michael Geary, MOON ASTROLOGY FOR LOVERS (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'D'

Related Terms

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