moistmoist /mɔɪst/ ●○○ adjective 
Word Origin
Make sure the soil is moist before planting the seeds. a rich, moist chocolate cake warm moist air Her eyes were moist (=she was almost crying).► see thesaurus at damp, wet—moistness noun [uncountable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINmoist
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 Old French moiste, from Latin mucidus ‘wet and slippery’, from mucus; ➔ MUCUSEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- a moist chocolate cake
- The mixture should be slightly moist, but not sticky.
- The sandwiches are made with moist slices of chicken breast, topped with various ingredients.
- Water the plants regularly to keep the soil moist.
- Beneath the overcast sky the air was hot and moist.
- It is true that the deep forests are moist, but they are entirely without permanent standing water.
- Just pinch them off and plant in seed compost, which should be kept barely moist in a bright, warm place.
- Star fruit trees like well-draining, moist and slightly acid soil.
- Sugar shone on his mouth, spilled as he thrust into the dancers, his moist lips reddened.
- The moist, mossy smell was soothing.
- Their eggs are also laid on moist ground and the males crouch beside them on guard.
THESAURUSthings► damp
Collocations slightly wet: · Iron the shirt while it is still damp.· a damp cloth
► moist slightly wet, especially when this is pleasant or how something should be: · a moist chocolate cake· The cream helps to keep your skin moist.· Make sure that the soil is moist.
► clammy slightly wet and sticky, in an unpleasant way – used especially about someone’s skin: · His hands were cold and clammy.
► wet covered in water or another liquid: · I’ve just washed my hair and it’s still wet.· You’d better change out of those wet clothes.
► damp slightly wet: · Wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.· The sheets are still a little damp.· The grass was still too damp to sit on.
► moist slightly wet, especially in a pleasant way – used about soil, food, or about someone’s skin or eyes: · It’s important to keep the soil moist.· a delicious moist chocolate cake· Her eyes became moist (=she was almost crying).
► clammy feeling slightly wet, cold, and sticky – used about someone’s skin, especially when they are nervous or ill: · He had clammy hands.· Ruby was feverish and clammy with sweat.
► soggy unpleasantly wet and soft – used especially about food or the ground: · a bowl of soggy rice· It had been raining hard and the ground was soggy underfoot.
► humid/muggy used when the weather is hot but the air feels wet in a way that makes you uncomfortable: · Summers in Tokyo are hot and humid.· a hot muggy day· the humid heat of a tropical forest
Longman Language Activatorslightly wet► damp slightly wet, especially in an unpleasant way: · Don't put that shirt on. It's still damp.· Clean the counter with a damp cloth.· Be careful you don't slip - the grass is damp.· There was a damp spot on the ceiling.
► moist something that is moist is slightly wet, and this is the way it should be: · The mixture should be slightly moist, but not sticky.· Water the plants regularly to keep the soil moist.· The sandwiches are made with moist slices of chicken breast, topped with various ingredients.
► clammy something that is clammy , especially someone's skin, is slightly wet and feels unpleasantly cold and sticky: · As soon as the interview began, I felt my hands go clammy.· We were left waiting in our clammy clothes for over an hour.clammy with: · His whole body was clammy with sweat as a result of the malaria.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► moist/damp earth
slightly wet, especially in a way that is pleasant or suitable: · I slipped on the damp earth and fell over.
► moist/watery/tearful eye (=full of tears)· Bethan’s eyes grew moist as she talked about her family.
► tearful/moist/misty eye (=feeling that you want to cry)· As she left a village, people waved at her with tearful eyes.
► moist/dry soil· Keep the soil moist.· The soil was dry after three weeks without rain.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► air· Damp leaves, moist air and a faint atmosphere of dereliction made my riverside walk feel sadly autumnal.· But this time there was silence behind the clanging bells, and a slight stirring in the warm, moist air.· The dust mite, which thrives in warm, moist air, is the greatest source of allergens for asthmatics.
► soil· They should be planted in moist soil that is high in organic content for best results.· The fungus grows best on the surface of moist soils, containing bird and bat droppings.· What it does require, however, is a moist soil rather than one that is very dry.· A rich, moist soil and an open situation he considered ideal for producing the best blooms.· A rich, moist soil adds further to its comfort though it should not be planted with less virile subject.
Make sure the soil is moist before planting the seeds. a rich, moist chocolate cake warm moist air Her eyes were moist (=she was almost crying).► see thesaurus at damp, wet—moistness noun [uncountable]