Definitions for: Damp


[n] a slight wetness
[adj] slightly wet; "clothes damp with perspiration"; "a moist breeze"; "eyes moist with tears"
[v] lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall"
[v] make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible; "muffle the message"
[v] restrain or discourage; "the sudden bad news damped the joyous atmosphere"
[v] deaden (a sound or noise), esp. by wrapping



Webster (1913) Definition: Damp (d[a^]mp), n. [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. damp vapor,
steam, fog, G. dampf, Icel. dampi, Sw. damb dust, and to MNG.
dimpfen to smoke, imp. dampf.]
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 product, formed in coal mines, old
wells, pints, etc.

Choke damp, a damp consisting principally of carbonic acid
gas; -- so called from its extinguishing flame and animal
life. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.

Damp sheet, a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air
currents and prevent accumulation of gas.

Fire damp, a damp consisting chiefly of light carbureted
hydrogen; -- so called from its tendence to explode when
mixed with atmospheric air and brought into contact with
flame.


Damp, a. [Compar. Damper; superl. Dampest.]
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, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Damped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Damping.] [OE. dampen to choke, suffocate. See Damp, n.]
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.

Synonyms: break, dampen, dampen, dampish, dampness, dull, moist, moistness, muffle, mute, soften, tone down, weaken, wet

See Also: blunt, check, clamminess, contain, control, curb, damp, dankness, deaden, deafen, hold, hold in, moderate, soften, wetness

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