damp Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a slight wetness
    dampness; moistness.
  2. verb deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
    dampen; mute; muffle; tone down; dull.
  3. verb restrain or discourage
    • the sudden bad news damped the joyous atmosphere
  4. verb make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
    deaden; dampen.
    • muffle the message
  5. verb lessen in force or effect
    break; weaken; dampen; soften.
    • soften a shock
    • break a fall
  6. adjective satellite slightly wet
    dampish; moist.
    • clothes damp with perspiration
    • a moist breeze
    • eyes moist with tears

WordNet

Damp noun
Etymology
Akin to LG., D., & Dan. damp vapor, steam, fog, G. dampf, Icel. dampi, Sw. damb dust, and to MNG. dimpfen to smoke, imp. dampf.
Definitions
  1. Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.
    Night . . . with black air Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom. Milton.
  2. Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.
    Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence, A secret damp of grief comes o'er my soul. Addison.
    It must have thrown a damp over your autumn excursion. J. D. Forbes.
  3. (Mining) A gaseous prodact, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.
Damp adjective
Wordforms
comparative Damper ; superlative Dampest
Definitions
  1. Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.
    O'erspread with a damp sweat and holy fear. Dryden.
  2. Dejected; depressed; sunk. R.
    All these and more came flocking, but with looks Downcast and damp. Milton.
Damp intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. dampen to choke, suffocate. See Damp, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Damped ; present participle & verbal noun Damping
Definitions
  1. To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth.
  2. To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage. "To damp your tender hopes." Akenside.
    Usury dulls and damps all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug. Bacon.
    How many a day has been damped and darkened by an angry word! Sir J. Lubbock.
    The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit of the soldiers. Macaulay.

Webster 1913