— damageable , adj. — damageableness, damageability , n. — damager , n.
/dam"ij/ , n. , v. , damaged, damaging .
n.
1. injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness: The storm did considerable damage to the crops.
2. damages , Law. the estimated money equivalent for detriment or injury sustained.
3. Often, damages . Informal. cost; expense; charge: What are the damages for the lubrication job on my car?
v.t.
4. to cause damage to; injure or harm; reduce the value or usefulness of: He damaged the saw on a nail.
v.i.
5. to become damaged: Soft wood damages easily.
[ 1250-1300; ME dam ( damnum damage, fine) + -age -AGE; see DAMN ]
Syn. 1. loss. DAMAGE, DETRIMENT, HARM, MISCHIEF refer to injuries of various kinds. DAMAGE is the kind of injury or the effect of injury that directly impairs appearance, value, usefulness, soundness, etc.: Fire causes damage to property. DETRIMENT is a falling off from an original condition as the result of damage, depreciation, devaluation, etc.: Overeating is a detriment to health. HARM may denote either physical hurt or mental, moral, or spiritual injury: bodily harm; harm to one's self-confidence. MISCHIEF may be damage, harm, trouble, or misfortune caused by a person, esp. if maliciously: an enemy who would do one mischief. 4. impair, hurt.