dabbler

/ˈdæb.lər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdæb.lɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈda-b(ə-)lər/ (ame, mw)

dabbler — noun

  • dabblersingular
  • dabblersplural

1. a person who briefly explores a subject or activity, without giving it serious t

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person who briefly explores a subject or activity, without giving it serious time or effort.

例句

At the pottery fair, Lara sounded like a dabbler beside serious collectors.

dabbler contrasted with more committed people

After one coding course, Minho admitted he was only a dabbler.

only a dabbler after a short try

同義詞
  • amateur

    can mean unpaid or non-professional, without implying such shallow interest

  • hobbyist

    sounds more positive and often suggests steadier interest over time

  • dilettante

    more formal and more critical, often implying showy but shallow interest

反義詞
  • expert

    has deep knowledge or skill in the subject

  • specialist

    focuses seriously on one field rather than sampling many

文法句型

a dabbler in + subject

a dabbler in + activity

用法筆記

Often followed by in before a subject or activity. It usually suggests curiosity without much skill or long-term commitment.

常見錯誤

❌She is dabbler in music.
✅She is a dabbler in music.
💡singular dabbler is countable and normally needs an article.
❌He is a dabbler of photography.
✅He is a dabbler in photography.
💡use in before the subject or activity.

2. a duck that feeds in shallow water by tipping its front down and its tail up.

2.名詞C2
釋義

a duck that feeds in shallow water by tipping its front down and its tail up.

例句

At the marsh, Bao spotted a dabbler feeding upside down near the reeds.

bird-guide use: surface feeding in shallow water

Unlike diving ducks, these dabblers stay close to the surface.

contrast with diving ducks

同義詞
反義詞
  • diving duck

    feeds by going underwater rather than tipping at the surface

文法句型

a dabbler feeding near the surface

flock of dabblers

用法筆記

Usually used in birdwatching or field-guide language. It names ducks that feed near the surface, not ducks that dive deep underwater.

常見錯誤

❌The lake had several dabblers diving for fish.
✅The lake had several dabblers feeding near the surface.
💡dabblers feed in shallow water instead of diving deep.