Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To let saliva or liquid flow uncontrollably from the mouth; to drool or slobber.
   • (Archaic/Regional) To speak in a sentimental, maudlin, or overly emotional manner.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To wet or soil by allowing saliva to flow onto something.
   • To do something in a careless, sloppy, or clumsy manner.

Usage and Examples

• Intransitive Verb (Primary Meaning):

  • The teething infant began to slabber all over his bib.
  • The old dog would slabber on the floor after drinking water.

• Transitive Verb:

  • He slabbered his shirt while trying to eat the messy sandwich.
  • (Archaic/Figurative) The poor workman slabbered the job, leaving many mistakes.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Register: The primary meaning (to drool) is now considered somewhat archaic, regional, or literary in modern English. The more common contemporary synonyms are "drool" or "slobber."
• Connotation: When used to describe speech ("to speak maudlinly"), it carries a negative, dismissive connotation, implying the speech is overly sentimental and foolish.
• "Slabber over": To drool over something, either literally or figuratively (to show excessive desire).
  • The collectors slabbered over the rare vintage car.

Variants and Related Words

• Slobber (verb/noun): The most common modern equivalent meaning to drool or the saliva itself.
• Drool (verb/noun): To let saliva run from the mouth; also used figuratively for showing excessive desire.
• Drivel (verb/noun): To let saliva flow from the mouth; also means to talk nonsense.
• Slabbery (adjective): Wet with saliva; slobbery.

Synonyms

• Drool
• Slobber
• Drivel
• Slaver
• Dribble (in the context of saliva)

Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• To slabber over: To drool on or over something; to show excessive enthusiasm or desire for something.
  • The puppy slabbered over the new chew toy.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• None commonly associated directly with "slabber." The word itself is often used in descriptive phrases rather than fixed idioms.

Verb

1. let saliva drivel from the mouth
   • The baby drooled