Definition of "dabble" [dab•ble]

• To splash or spatter with or as if with a liquid: "The moon hung over the harbor dabbling the waves with gold” ( Katherine Mansfield). (verb-transitive)
• To splash liquid gently and playfully. (verb-intransitive)
• To undertake something superficially or without serious intent: "The restaurant business entails more than . . . dabbling in interior design” ( Andy Birsh). (verb-intransitive)
• To bob forward and under in shallow water so as to feed off the bottom. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The previous Transporter films have had Martin dabble with romance before (once with Asian actress Shu Qi and a brief flirtation in the last film with Amber Valetta)."
• "Perhaps she needed to "dabble" a bit in order to find her way, and ultimately, her choice of faith needs to be respected."
• "Perhaps the question should be: Does the word "dabble" bother you when referencing part of your spiritual quest, even if it was only short-lived?"