damp
/dæmp/ · dam·p
noun
- Moisture; humidity; dampness. The air in the basement was damp and musty.
- Fog; fogginess; vapor. The damp mist rolled in off the ocean.
- Dejection or depression; something that spoils a positive emotion (such as enjoyment, satisfaction, expectation or courage) or a desired activity. The news of the cancellation dampened everyone's spirits.
verb
- To dampen; to make moderately wet. Damp the cloth before ironing.
- To put out, as fire; to weaken, restrain, or make dull. The rain dampened the flames and saved the house.
- To suppress vibrations (mechanical) or oscillations (electrical) by converting energy to heat (or some other form of energy). The shock absorbers dampened the impact of the crash.
adjective
- In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist. The lawn was still damp so we decided not to sit down.
- Despondent; dispirited, downcast. After the breakup, she felt damp and lost her motivation.
- Permitting the possession of alcoholic beverages, but not their sale. The campsite was damp, meaning we could bring our own beer.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The word 'damp' has been used in various idiomatic expressions, such as 'damp squib', which refers to a firework that fails to explode, and 'damp down', which means to reduce or extinguish something, often used in the context of emotions or enthusiasm.