/ dæmp; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective
( damp·er , damp·est ) slightly wet, often in a way that is unpleasant :
The cottage was cold and damp.
It feels damp in here.
damp clothes
Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
➡ note at wet
► damp·ly adverb :
The blouse clung damply to her skin.
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IDIOMS
- a damp squib
■ noun
[ U ] ( BrE ) the state of being damp; areas on a wall, etc. that are damp :
The old house smells of damp.
Those marks above the window look like damp to me.
■ verb
[ vn ] = dampen :
She damped a towel and wrapped it round his leg.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- damp down sth
- damp sth down
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the noun sense noxious inhalation ): of West Germanic origin; related to a Middle Low German word meaning vapour, steam, smoke .