damp

[damp]

adjective

damper, dampest 

1. slightly wet; moist.

   damp weather;

   a damp towel.

   Synonyms: steamy, dank
   Antonyms: dry

2. unenthusiastic; halfhearted; tepid.

   The welcoming committee gave them a rather damp reception.

3. dejected; depressed.

   I went shopping to lift my damp spirits.

noun

1. moisture; humidity; moist air.

   damp that goes through your warmest clothes.

   Synonyms: vapor, fog

2. a noxious or stifling vapor or gas, especially in a mine.

3. depression of spirits; dejection.

4. a restraining or discouraging force or factor.

verb (used with object)

1. to make damp; moisten.

   Synonyms: humidify

2. to check or retard the energy, action, etc., of; deaden; dampen.

   A series of failures damped her enthusiasm.

   Synonyms: moderate, restrain, inhibit, slow, abate

3. to stifle or suffocate; extinguish.

   to damp a furnace.

4. Acoustics, Music.,  to check or retard the action of (a vibrating string); dull; deaden.

5. Physics.,  to cause a decrease in amplitude of (successive oscillations or waves).

verb phrase

1. damp off,  to undergo damping-off.

damp

/ dæmp /

adjective

1. slightly wet, as from dew, steam, etc

2. archaic,  dejected

noun

1. slight wetness; moisture; humidity

2. rank air or poisonous gas, esp in a mine See also firedamp

3. a discouragement; damper

4. archaic,  dejection

verb

1. to make slightly wet

2. (often foll by down) to stifle or deaden

   to damp one's ardour

3. (often foll by down) to reduce the flow of air to (a fire) to make it burn more slowly or to extinguish it

4. physics to reduce the amplitude of (an oscillation or wave)

5. music to muffle (the sound of an instrument)

Other Word Forms

• dampness noun
• damply adverb
• dampish adjective
• dampishly adverb
• dampishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of damp¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (in sense of damp def. 5 ); compare Middle Dutch damp, Middle High German dampf “vapor, smoke”

Word History and Origins

Origin of damp¹

C14: from Middle Low German damp steam; related to Old High German demphen to cause to steam

Synonym Study

Damp, humid, moist mean slightly wet. Damp usually implies slight and extraneous wetness, generally undesirable or unpleasant unless the result of intention: a damp cellar; to put a damp cloth on a patient's forehead. Humid is applied to unpleasant dampness in the air: The air is oppressively humid today. Moist denotes something that is slightly wet, naturally or properly: moist ground; moist leather.

Example Sentences

In damp conditions, England chose to field and reduced South Africa to 93-3, only for Matthew Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs to rebuild.

From BBC

More than 30,000 UK homes have had botched insulation fitted under government schemes putting them at risk of damp and mould, ministers have revealed.

From BBC

The old city slums were cleared, but many people were moved to damp, isolated tower blocks with limited amenities.

From BBC

Symptoms of heat exhaustion are: a high body temperature over 103 degrees; a fast, strong pulse; damp skin, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and fainting.

From Los Angeles Times

Dry clothes outdoors if you can, rather than using a tumble dryer, or hang clothes indoors but ventilate well or use a dehumidifier to avoid damp.

From BBC

Related Words

• cloudy 
• dank 
• drizzly www.thesaurus.com
• misty 
• moist 
• muggy 
• saturated 
• soaked www.thesaurus.com
• sodden 
• soggy 
• steamy 
• sticky 
• waterlogged