drab
/dræb/ (bre, ipa) · [drˈæb] /dræb/ (ame, ipa) · [drˈæb] /ˈdrab How to pronounce drab (audio)/ (ame, mw)
drab — adjective
- drabpositive
- drabbercomparative
- drabbestsuperlative
1. not bright or interesting to look at, and often giving a feeling of sadness or b
not bright or interesting to look at, and often giving a feeling of sadness or boredom
Mei-Ling found the waiting room walls a drab shade of grey.
collocation: drab + colour word (drab grey, drab brown)
Kwame left his drab office job to open a beach café.
The drab winter sky hung over the small town for weeks.
Fatima hated her drab flat, so she painted every wall bright yellow.
The factory canteen was a drab, cheerless hall with cold plastic chairs.
- dull
more general — can describe sounds, pain, weather, or a person's mind, not just appearance
- dreary
suggests gloom and sadness more strongly, especially for weather or atmosphere
- colourless
focuses only on lack of colour, without the boredom or sadness that 'drab' carries
用法筆記
Often describes places (rooms, buildings, towns) and weather. Can refer to both physical appearance and the emotional mood something creates.
常見錯誤
2. having a pale yellowish-brown colour with a hint of green, like undyed wool or f
having a pale yellowish-brown colour with a hint of green, like undyed wool or faded olive cloth
The soldiers wore drab uniforms that matched the dusty ground.
collocation: drab uniform / drab fabric
Diego picked a drab olive shirt from the market stall.
A small drab moth sat still on the grey tree branch.
Siti ordered a drab brown cover for the old sofa.
The bird's drab feathers helped it hide among the dry leaves.
- vivid
bright and intense in colour — the opposite of drab's muted tone
用法筆記
Used mainly for fabric, uniforms, and natural colours in animals or plants. Not typically used for food, skin tones, or modern fashion items.
drab — noun
1. a dull yellowish-brown or greenish-brown colour, often associated with old milit
a dull yellowish-brown or greenish-brown colour, often associated with old military uniforms or faded natural tones
The soldiers were dressed in drab from head to foot.
phrase: 'in drab' for clothing colour
Priyanka chose a soft drab for the hallway walls.
The autumn fields faded into a quiet drab by late November.
A splash of yellow paint broke the drab of the old kitchen.
Yara's wardrobe held only drab and grey, without a single bright colour.
- olive brown
a more precise term for the greenish-brown shade
- khaki
a lighter, more yellowish brown used for military or casual wear
用法筆記
Most often appears in descriptive writing or military contexts. Commonly used with 'in' (in drab) to describe someone's clothing.