dampened; dampening
ˈdamp-niŋ
ˈdam-pə-
1
: to check or diminish the activity or vigor of : deaden
the heat dampened our spirits
2
: to make damp
the shower barely dampened the ground
3
damp·en·er
ˈdam-pə-nər
plural -s
: one that dampens: such as
a
: a device for dampening cloth (as in a laundry)
b
: a worker that dampens articles in preparation for further processing:
(1)
: one that tempers shoe outsoles to facilitate cutting, shaping, and stitching
called also muller
(2)
: one that dampens textiles (as hosiery or cloth) for boarding or ironing
(3)
: one that softens hides in warm water
c
: a device for retarding the oscillations of a spring when a load is suddenly applied or removed
d
: any of the rollers on an offset printing press that convey water to nonprinting areas of the printing surface
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dampen. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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