To daub means to spread or smear something thickly and clumsily onto a surface. When a toddler daubs finger paint on paper, they're slapping it on with enthusiasm but without much precision or care. When someone daubs mud on a wall to fill cracks, they're applying it roughly rather than smoothly.

The word suggests messy, careless application. A careful artist might delicately brush paint onto canvas, but someone who daubs just slaps it on. You might daub sunscreen on your nose, or daub frosting on a cake with your fingers instead of spreading it neatly with a knife.

Historically, people would daub mud or clay mixed with straw onto wooden frames to build cottage walls. This ancient building technique, called wattle and daub, created homes that were surprisingly sturdy despite the rough construction method.

As a noun, daub can also mean a poorly painted picture: “That's just a daub” suggests something painted without skill or care. In this sense, a dauber isn't a compliment for an artist.