Word forms: comparative damper, superlative dampest, 3rd person singular presenttense damps, present participle damping, past tense, past participle damped
1. adjective
Something that is damp is slightly wet.
Her hair was still damp.
...the damp, cold air.
She wiped the table with a damp cloth.
Synonyms: moist, wet, dripping, soggy More Synonyms of damp
2. uncountable noun
Damp is moisture that is found on the inside walls of a house or in the air.
There was damp everywhere and the entire building was in need of rewiring.
Synonyms: moisture, liquid, humidity, drizzle More Synonyms of damp
3. See also rising damp
4. verb
If you damp something, you make it slightly wet.
Hillsden damped a hand towel and laid it across her forehead. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: moisten, wet, soak, dampen More Synonyms of damp
Phrasal verbs:
See damp down
damp in British English
(dæmp)
adjective
1.
slightly wet, as from dew, steam, etc
2. archaic
dejected
noun
3.
slight wetness; moisture; humidity
4.
rank air or poisonous gas, esp in a mine
See also firedamp
5.
a discouragement; damper
6. archaic
dejection
verb(transitive)
7.
to make slightly wet
8. (often foll by down)
to stifle or deaden
to damp one's ardour
9. (often foll by down)
to reduce the flow of air to (a fire) to make it burn more slowly or to extinguish it
10. physics
to reduce the amplitude of (an oscillation or wave)
11. music
to muffle (the sound of an instrument)
Derived forms
dampish (ˈdampish)
adjective
damply (ˈdamply)
adverb
dampness (ˈdampness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Middle Low German damp steam; related to Old High German demphen to cause to steam
damp in American English
(dæmp)
noun
1.
a slight wetness; moisture
2.
a harmful gas sometimes found in mines; firedamp; blackdamp
3. Archaic
a dejected or depressed state
adjective
4.
somewhat moist or wet; humid
5.
dejected; depressed
verb transitive
6.
to make damp; moisten
7.
to slow the combustion of (a fire) by cutting off most of the air supply; bank
usually with down
8.
to check or reduce (energy or action)
9.
to check or deaden the vibration of (a piano string, drum membrane, etc.)
10.
to reduce the amplitude of (oscillations, waves, etc.)
SIMILAR WORDS: wet
Idioms:
damp off
Derived forms
dampish (ˈdampish)
adjective
damply (ˈdamply)
adverb
dampness (ˈdampness)
noun
Word origin
MDu, vapor, steam, akin to OHG, MHG, Ger dampf < IE base *dhem-, to smoke, mist > dank
More idioms containing
damp
a damp squib
Examples of 'damp' in a sentence
damp
Arrange on a tray, cover with a damp tea towel and set aside to rest.
The Sun (2017)
In damp, dark woods there is a flower that glimmers in the shadows.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cover with a damp tea cloth and leave to double in size, about an hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Set aside, covered with a damp cloth in the fridge if you are doing this in advance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I remember it as being still slightly damp.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They particularly favour low, damp patches at the edge of lawns where there is some shelter from trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She says:'In the morning tie back damp hair with day.
The Sun (2016)
It should be kept in damp conditions to be stable, but some teachers have left it in dry cupboards, making it volatile.
The Sun (2016)
It is dark and damp and the smell is unbearable.
The Sun (2009)
Not a total damp squib but still too soggy for our liking.
The Sun (2015)
We go and lie down in the corner and place a damp towel over our forehead.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We had a major problem with damp in the house.
The Sun (2014)
Tie damp hair in a bun and allow to dry naturally.
The Sun (2012)
Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove them.
The Sun (2015)
When the weather is cold or damp you will hit about ten to fifteen yards less.
Use a few drops on slightly damp skin to trap moisture.
The Sun (2013)
The fire was caused by a neighbour who placed a damp towel over a lamp.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The house smelt of damp then and still does now.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are damp patches on the ceilings.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Smooth through damp hair for five minutes once a week for visibly healthier hair.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Wipe it with a damp cloth and dry with soft kitchen roll.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They need protection from cold and damp.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The problem is damp air and freezing cold nights.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Cover the sponge with a slightly damp tea towel and set aside until cold.
The Sun (2012)
Other drivers reported that it was becoming very difficult to pick out the dry line between the darker damp patches.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I always think of this time of the year as wet and damp!
Crawshaw, Alwyn Crawshaw's Watercolour Studio (1993)
I steadied myself with a hand on the damp wall.
Marsden, Philip The Crossing-Place (1993)
The regiments that had spent the night marching lay down to sleep in wet clothes and probably woke up to fight the battle still very damp.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
You should be able to wipe away superficial dirt with a damp (not wet ) cloth.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
damp
British English: damp /dæmp/ ADJECTIVE
Damp means slightly wet.
...a damp towel.
American English: damp
Arabic: نَدِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: úmido
Chinese: 潮湿的
Croatian: vlažan
Czech: vlhký
Danish: fugtig
Dutch: vochtig
European Spanish: húmedo
Finnish: kostea
French: humide
German: feucht
Greek: υγρός
Italian: umido
Japanese: 湿気のある
Korean: 축축한
Norwegian: fuktig
Polish: wilgotny
European Portuguese: húmido
Romanian: umed
Russian: сырой
Latin American Spanish: húmedo
Swedish: fuktig
Thai: ชื้น
Turkish: nemli
Ukrainian: вологий
Vietnamese: ẩm ướt
British English: damp NOUN
Damp is moisture that is found on the inside walls of a house or in the air.
There was damp everywhere and the entire building was in need of rewiring.
American English: damp
Brazilian Portuguese: umidade
Chinese: 潮气
European Spanish: humedad
French: humidité
German: Feuchtigkeit
Italian: umidità
Japanese: 湿気
Korean: 습기
European Portuguese: humidade
Latin American Spanish: humedad
All related terms of 'damp'
damp down
To damp down something such as a strong emotion , an argument , or a crisis means to make it calmer or less intense .
damp-dry
(of something, such as a garment, that has been drying) nearly dry but still damp
damp off
(of plants, seedlings , shoots, etc) to be affected by damping off
damp course
A damp course is a layer of waterproof material which is put into the bottom of the outside wall of a building to prevent moisture from rising .
damp-proof
to protect against the incursion of damp by adding a dampcourse or by coating with a moisture-resistant preparation
damp squib
You can describe something such as an event or a performance as a damp squib when it is expected to be interesting, exciting , or impressive , but fails to be any of these things.
rising damp
If a building has rising damp , moisture that has entered the bricks has moved upwards from the floor , causing damage to the walls.
a damp squib
something that is much less impressive or exciting than you expected it to be
damp-proof course
A damp-proof course is the same as a → damp course .
dampcourse
a horizontal layer of impervious material in a brick wall, fairly close to the ground, to stop moisture rising
Chinese translation of 'damp'
damp
(dæmp)
adj
[building, air, cloth]潮湿(濕)的 (cháoshī de)
n(u)
(in air, in walls) 湿(濕)气(氣) (shīqì)
vt
[cloth] (also dampen) 使潮湿(濕) (shǐ cháoshī)
[enthusiasm, spirits etc]打击(擊) (dǎjī)
(adjective)
Definition
slightly wet
She wiped the table with a damp cloth.damp weather
Synonyms
moist
Wipe off any excess with a clean, moist flannel.
wet
He rubbed his wet hair with a towel.
dripping
soggy
soggy cheese and tomato sandwiches
humid
Visitors can expect hot and humid conditions.
sodden
We stripped off our sodden clothes.
dank
The kitchen was dank and cheerless.
sopping
clammy
As you peer down into this pit, the clammy atmosphere rises to meet your skin.
dewy
muggy
It was muggy and overcast.
drizzly
vaporous
Opposites
dry
,
arid
,
watertight
(noun)
Definition
slight wetness
There was damp everywhere in the house.
Synonyms
moisture
When the soil is dry, more moisture is lost from the plant.
liquid
humidity
The heat and humidity were insufferable.
drizzle
dew
dampness
A chill dampness was rising from the rough grass.
wetness
I felt the wetness of my damp clothes against my skin.
dankness
clamminess
mugginess
Opposites
dryness
,
aridity
(verb)
Definition
to make slightly wet
She damped a hand towel and laid it across her head.
Synonyms
moisten
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.
wet
Wet the fabric with a damp sponge before ironing.
soak
Soak the soil around each bush with at least 4 gallons of water.
dampen
She took the time to dampen a cloth and wash her face.
lick
moisturize
humidify
phrasal verb
See damp something down
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clammy
Definition
unpleasantly moist and sticky
As you peer down into this pit, the clammy atmosphere rises to meet your skin.
Synonyms
damp,
humid,
dank,
muggy,
close
in the sense of dampen
Definition
to make damp
She took the time to dampen a cloth and wash her face.