dub

SayDUBUS · UK/dʌb//dɐb/

Noun pluraldubs

34 meanings of dub

1
verbtransitive
To give someone or something a name, often a nickname.
Like giving a friend a nickname that ends up sticking.
Fans dubbed her the queen of pop after the tour.
We dub the new puppy Rocket because he never sits still.
Similarcall, name, term, style, entitle
Note
2
verbtransitive
To swap out a movie's original spoken words for a recorded version in another language.
Like putting new words in a character's mouth so they speak your language.
They dubbed the cartoon into Spanish for younger viewers.
Studios often dub foreign films before releasing them here.
3
verbtransitive
To add or change the sound on a film after it is shot.
Like adding music to a home video after you film it.
Engineers dubbed extra crowd noise onto the match footage.
They dub sound effects onto the film during editing.
Note
4
nouncountable
A recorded replacement of the voices in a movie or cartoon, often in another language.
Like a fresh voice track recorded over the old one.
The Spanish dub of the movie was very popular with families.
Fans complained the dub didn't match the actors' lips.
5
verbtransitive
To make someone a knight, usually by tapping each shoulder with a sword.
Like an official ceremony that turns a person into a knight.
The queen dubbed him a knight at the palace ceremony.
Kings would dub brave soldiers right on the battlefield.
Similarknight
Note
6
nouncountable
A victory, especially in a video game or competitive match.
Like a big W marked next to your name for winning.
We finally got the dub after three close matches.
That last play earned them the dub.
Similarwin, victory
Oppositeloss, defeat
Note
7
noununcountable
A kind of reggae music made by mixing and reworking audio tracks together.
Like reggae taken apart and built back up around its bass and drums.
He spent the night listening to old dub from Jamaica.
Dub has a deep, heavy bass sound you can feel in your chest.
Note
8
nouncountable
A remixed version of a song with most or all of the singing taken out.
Like a karaoke track that keeps the beat but drops the singing.
The single came with a dub on the B-side.
DJs often play the dub instead of the full song.
Similarremix, instrumental, version
Note
9
verbtransitive
To mix audio tracks together to create a new version of a song.
Like blending two recordings into one new song.
She dubbed the vocals and drums into one new track.
Producers dub old songs to give them a fresh sound.
Similarremix, mix
10
verbtransitive
To copy sound from a master tape onto another tape.
Like making a photocopy, but for sound on tape.
He dubbed the album onto a blank cassette for his friend.
Studios dub master tapes to send out review copies.
Similarcopy, duplicate, transfer
Note

11
nounabbreviationclipping
Clipping of double-u. A short, casual way to say the letter W.
She told him the link was just dub dub dub followed by the company name.
He muttered a quick dub while reading out the serial code.
Note
12
verbtransitive
To do something poorly or clumsily.
Like rushing a drawing and making a mess of it.
He dubbed the whole job and had to start over.
Don't dub your homework just to finish it fast.
Similarbotch, bungle, flub, fumble, muff
13
nounslangcountable
A large car wheel rim that is 20 inches across or bigger.
Like supersized wheels that make a car stand out.
He saved up to put shiny new dubs on his old sedan.
Each dub on that ride is polished chrome.
Similarrim, wheel
Note
14
verbtransitive
To hit a golf shot badly.
Like swinging hard but barely moving the ball.
He dubbed his tee shot straight into the water.
Beginners often dub easy chip shots near the green.
Similarmishit, flub, duff, fluff
Note
15
nouncountable
A bad golf shot that goes wrong, usually hit weakly or off-center.
Like swinging hard at a ball and just tapping it by mistake.
He hit a dub off the first tee and the ball barely rolled forward.
After three dubs in a row, she gave up on the hole.
Similarmishit, flub, duff
16
noununcountable
A type of electronic dance music from around 2009 that uses heavy, wobbly bass that falls off the beat.
Like dance music where the deep bass wobbles instead of keeping a steady beat.
They danced all night to dub at the warehouse party.
The DJ mixed dub into his set after midnight.
Similardubstep
Note
17
verbtransitive
To declare or consider someone or something to be a certain thing.
Like sticking a label on something so everyone calls it that.
Critics dubbed the new restaurant a disappointment.
The press will dub any close election a nail-biter.
Similarconsider, deem, judge, count, hold
Note
18
nounslanghistoricalcountable
A clumsy or awkward person who is not good at things.
Like the kid always picked last because he keeps dropping the ball.
Everyone treated the poor dub as the butt of their jokes.
The sergeant had no patience for dubs who couldn't hold a rifle straight.
Similarbungler, klutz, duffer, oaf, fumbler
Oppositeexpert
Note
19
nounrarecountable
A hit, thrust, or poke given to someone or something.
Like a quick jab with your finger.
He gave the door a sharp dub with his elbow.
And kettle-drums, whose sullen dub Sounds like the hooping of a tub
1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”Here, dub means a hit or beat, like the blow of a drumstick.
Similarblow, jab, poke, thrust, prod
20
nounslang
A small bag of marijuana that costs twenty dollars.
21
verb
To dress, decorate, or make something look fancy.
22
verb
To make a sound by beating a drum quickly.
23
nounslang
A graffiti painting done in shiny metal colors with a thick black outline.
24
verb
To get a fighting rooster ready by trimming its feathers, comb, and wattles.
25
noundialectalUK
A small pool of water or a puddle.
26
verb
To hit, rub, or work a surface until it is smooth, or to touch it lightly with something.
27
verb
To smooth or shape wood using an adze.
28
verb
To brush cloth with teasels to raise a soft, fuzzy surface.
29
verb
To rub grease into leather to soften and treat it.
30
verb
To add fur or soft fiber to a fishing fly to give it body.
31
nounIndia
A small copper coin used in India long ago.
32
verbobsoleteUK
In old criminal slang, to open or shut something, such as a door.
"Crash the cull—down with him—down with him before he dubs the jigger. Tip him the degan, Fib, fake him through and through; if he pikes we shall all be scragged."
1828, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Pelham
33
nounobsoleteUK
In old criminal slang, a lock.
34
nounobsoleteUK
In old criminal slang, a key or a tool for opening locks.

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Origins

Meanings 1, 5, 17

From Old English dubbian, meaning to make someone a knight by striking them with a sword. It came from Old French and older Germanic words meaning to hit or strike.

Meaning 18

This sense is imitative, meaning it copies a sound.

Meanings 2–4, 7–10, 16

A shortened form of the word double.

Meaning 13

A shortened form of double dime, meaning twenty.