dampen
pronunciation
How to pronounce dampen in British English:
UK [ˈdæmpən]
How to pronounce dampen in American English:
US [ˈdæmpən]
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- Verb:
- smother or suppress
- make moist
- deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
- reduce the amplitude (of oscillations or waves)
- make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
- check; keep in check (a fire)
- lessen in force or effect
Word Origin
- dampen (v.)
- 1630s, "to dull or deaden" (of force, enthusiasm, ardor, etc.), from damp (adj.) + -en (1). Meaning "to moisten" is recorded from 1827. Related: Dampened; dampening.
Example
- 1. Do u.s. bases in okinawa help dampen regional arms spending ?
- 2. Forcing real-name registration will further dampen their ardor .
- 3. Strong growth in china 's spending and imports is unlikely to dampen protectionist pressures , however .
- 4. Other factors should dampen prices , too .
- 5. That will dampen consumer spending .