damp
(dămp)
[Middle English, poison gas, perhaps from Middle Dutch, vapor.]
adjective: damp·er, damp·est.
- Slightly wet. See synonyms at wet
- Archaic Dejected.
noun
- Moisture in the air; humidity.
- Foul or poisonous gas that sometimes pollutes the air in coal mines.
- Lowness of spirits; depression.
- A restraint or check; a discouragement.
transitive verb: damped, damp·ing, damps.
- To make damp or moist; moisten.
- To extinguish (a fire, for example) by cutting off air.
- To restrain or check; discourage.
- Music To slow or stop the vibrations of (the strings of a keyboard instrument) with a damper.
- Physics To decrease the amplitude of (an oscillating system).
phrasal verbs
- damp off
- To be affected by damping off.
derivatives
- damṕish
- adjective
- damṕly
- adverb
- damṕness
- noun
