The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
DAMP
damp, dampish, moist
(adjective) slightly wet; “clothes damp with perspiration”; “a moist breeze”; “eyes moist with tears”
damp, dampness, moistness
(noun) a slight wetness
dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break
(verb) lessen in force or effect; “soften a shock”; “break a fall”
dampen, deaden, damp
(verb) make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible; “muffle the message”
damp
(verb) restrain or discourage; “the sudden bad news damped the joyous atmosphere”
muffle, mute, dull, damp, dampen, tone down
(verb) deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
DAMP (countable and uncountable, plural DAMPs)
(immunology) Initialism of damage-associated molecular pattern.
Initialism of deficits in attention, motor coordination and perception.
Anagrams
• M.D. Pa., MPDA
Etymology
Adjective
damp (comparative damper, superlative dampest)
In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist.
(figuratively) Despondent; dispirited, downcast.
Permitting the possession of alcoholic beverages, but not their sale.
Usage notes
Damp commonly is used for disagreeable conditions and moist often is used for agreeable conditions
• damp clothes
• moist cake
• a damp compress (hot or cold)
• a moist, sweaty brow
Synonyms
• (in a state between dry and wet): moist, thoan/thone (dialect); see also wet
• (despondent): glum, melancholy, sorrowful; see also sad
Noun
damp (countable and uncountable, plural damps)
Moisture; humidity; dampness.
(archaic) Fog; fogginess; vapor.
(archaic) Dejection or depression; something that spoils a positive emotion (such as enjoyment, satisfaction, expectation or courage) or a desired activity.
(archaic or historical, mining) A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pits, etc.
Verb
damp (third-person singular simple present damps, present participle damping, simple past and past participle damped)
(transitive, archaic) To dampen; to make moderately wet
Synonym: moisten
(transitive, archaic) To put out, as fire; to weaken, restrain, or make dull.
(transitive) To suppress vibrations (mechanical) or oscillations (electrical) by converting energy to heat (or some other form of energy).
Anagrams
• M.D. Pa., MPDA
Source: Wiktionary
Damp, n. Etym: [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)
Definition: A gaseous prodact, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc. Choke damp, a damp consisting principally of carboniCarbonic 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.] Etym: [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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Word of the Day
22 November 2024
SHEET
(noun) (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind
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