dampen Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb smother or suppress
    stifle.
    • Stifle your curiosity
  2. verb make moist
    wash; moisten.
    • The dew moistened the meadows
  3. verb deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
    mute; muffle; damp; tone down; dull.
  4. verb reduce the amplitude (of oscillations or waves)
  5. verb make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
    deaden; damp.
    • muffle the message
  6. verb check; keep in check (a fire)
  7. verb lessen in force or effect
    break; damp; weaken; soften.
    • soften a shock
    • break a fall

WordNet

Damp"en transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dampened ; present participle & verbal noun Dampening
Definitions
  1. To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.
  2. To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.
    In a way that considerably dampened our enthusiasm. The Century.
Damp"en intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become damp; to deaden. Byron.

Webster 1913