damp
damp — 形容詞
1. having a small amount of surface or airborne moisture that makes something feel
潮濕的
表面或空氣中有少量水分的
having a small amount of surface or airborne moisture that makes something feel cold or unpleasant.
The basement walls felt damp after three days of steady rain.
連續下了三天雨後，地下室的牆壁摸起來很潮濕。
collocation: damp + walls / basement
Nila wiped the damp kitchen counter with a dry cloth before setting down the groceries.
Nila 用乾布擦過潮濕的廚房流理臺，才放下買回來的東西。
Hugo pulled on a damp towel and shivered as he stepped out of the shower.
Hugo 從淋浴間出來時披上一條潮濕的毛巾，冷得發抖。
Walid wiped his damp forehead with the back of his hand after running up the stairs.
Walid 跑上樓梯後，用手背擦了擦濕漉漉的額頭。
- dry
having no water or moisture at all
文法句型
be + damp
damp + noun
用法筆記
Frequently describes something that is unpleasantly wet rather than just slightly wet. Unlike 'moist', which often has positive or neutral associations with food or skin, 'damp' carries a negative or uncomfortable tone when referring to buildings, weather, or fabric.
常見錯誤
damp — 名詞
1. unwanted moisture that collects on walls, floors, or in the air inside a buildin
濕氣
建築物中多餘且有害的水分
unwanted moisture that collects on walls, floors, or in the air inside a building and can cause damage or health problems.
The old cottage had a serious problem with damp every winter.
那棟老舊小屋每到冬天都有嚴重的濕氣問題。
collocation: problem with damp
Luca noticed dark patches of damp spreading across the bathroom ceiling near the leaking pipe.
Luca 注意到浴室天花板上有一大片潮濕的印痕，從漏水的管子周圍擴散開來。
collocation: patches of damp
A musty smell of damp filled the basement after the flood.
水災過後，地下室裡瀰漫著一股潮濕的霉味。
The surveyor recommended installing a damp-proof course to protect the ground-floor walls.
房屋檢驗師建議安裝防潮層，以保護一樓牆面不受濕氣侵蝕。
- moisture
more general and neutral; can be natural or wanted
- humidity
refers to water in the air, not on surfaces
- condensation
specifically water that forms when warm air hits a cold surface
- dryness
the state of being free from moisture
文法句型
a problem with damp
signs of damp
damp + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used in the UK and other temperate climates where old buildings suffer from rising or penetrating moisture. Often paired with 'problem' or 'damage' — 'damp' in this sense is always negative and uncountable.
常見錯誤
damp — 動詞
1. to reduce how strongly a fire or flame burns, typically by covering it or blocki
熄火
透過覆蓋使火焰減弱
to reduce how strongly a fire or flame burns, typically by covering it or blocking its air supply.
Benjamin damped the campfire with sand before heading to his tent.
Benjamin 在回帳篷前用沙子把營火壓熄。
verb pattern: damp + fire + with [material]
The gardener damped the bonfire to prevent sparks from reaching the dry grass.
園丁把營火燜小，以免火星飄到乾草上。
Nia damped the wood stove with ash before leaving the cabin for the night.
Nia 在離開小木屋過夜前，用灰燼把柴爐的火壓小。
The potter damped the kiln fire to slowly cool the temperature for a special glaze.
陶藝師把窯火調小，讓溫度慢慢降下來以燒製特殊釉料。
- stoke
to add fuel to make the fire burn more strongly
文法句型
damp + fire/flames + with [material]
用法筆記
Often interchangeable with 'dampen' in this sense. The fire is not fully extinguished — just slowed down or reduced. More common in British English; American English prefers 'dampen'.
2. to slow down or reduce the level of economic or business activity, especially de
抑制
減緩經濟或商業活動
to slow down or reduce the level of economic or business activity, especially demand, spending, or growth.
Higher interest rates are expected to damp consumer spending over the next year.
預計升息將在未來一年抑制消費支出。
collocation: damp consumer spending
The trade dispute damped the company's export growth in the second quarter.
這起貿易糾紛在第二季度抑制了該公司的出口成長。
collocation: damp growth
Rising energy costs damped demand for new cars across Europe.
能源成本上漲使整個歐洲的新車需求降溫。
The new tax on sugary drinks damped sales across the beverage industry.
含糖飲料的新稅制壓抑了整個飲料業的銷售額。
- boost
to increase or encourage activity or growth
文法句型
damp + [noun: demand/spending/growth]
用法筆記
Nearly always used in formal, business, or economic contexts. The object is typically an abstract noun referring to output, spending, or market activity. Rarely used with a personal subject — instead an impersonal force (taxes, interest rates, crises) is the subject.
常見錯誤
3. to cause an emotion, level of enthusiasm, or a similarly strong feeling to becom
減弱
削弱情緒、熱情或興奮感
to cause an emotion, level of enthusiasm, or a similarly strong feeling to become weaker.
The bad news damped everyone's excitement about the holiday trip.
那個壞消息讓大家對度假旅行的興奮感大打折扣。
collocation: damp excitement
Harper's disappointment at losing the race was damped by her teammates' kind words.
Harper 輸掉比賽的失落感被隊友們溫暖的話語沖淡了。
passive: damped by + [thing]
Nothing could damp Jin's enthusiasm for learning Mandarin, even the difficult tones.
就算是複雜的聲調也無法減弱 Jin 學習中文的熱情。
Rodrigo's excitement was damped when he learned the concert had been cancelled.
Rodrigo 得知演唱會取消後，原本興奮的心情頓時冷了下來。
- heighten
to make feelings or emotions stronger
文法句型
damp + [noun: enthusiasm/excitement/spirits]
4. to lessen how much an object shakes or echoes, making its sound quieter or less
消音
減少震動以降低聲音
to lessen how much an object shakes or echoes, making its sound quieter or less sharp.
Thick rubber mats were installed under the piano to damp the vibration of the floor.
鋼琴下方鋪了厚橡膠墊，以減少地板震動。
collocation: damp vibration
The soundproof panels in the recording studio damp unwanted echoes.
錄音室的隔音板能削弱多餘的回音。
collocation: damp sound / echoes
Felt pads on the bottom of the chair legs damp the noise when it is pushed across the floor.
椅腳底部的毛氈墊可以減少椅子在地板上推動時發出的噪音。
Rubber supports inside the washing machine damp the vibration during the spin cycle.
洗衣機內部的橡膠支架能在脫水時降低震動。
文法句型
damp + [noun: sound/vibration/noise]
用法筆記
This sense is more technical than the other verb senses. In everyday conversation, people usually say 'muffle' or 'deaden' instead of 'damp'. 'Damp' in this sense is common in engineering, acoustics, and music contexts.
常見錯誤
5. to put a small amount of water or other liquid onto a surface, cloth, or materia
弄濕
在表面或布料上加少量水分
to put a small amount of water or other liquid onto a surface, cloth, or material, making it slightly wet.
Kemi damped a cloth with warm water before wiping the dusty shelves.
Kemi 用溫水把布沾濕，然後擦拭積滿灰塵的架子。
verb pattern: damp + cloth + with + [liquid]
The florist damped the moss around the potted orchids to keep them fresh.
花店老闆把盆栽蘭花周圍的水苔噴濕，以保持新鮮。
Hoa lightly damped the soil around each seedling before covering the tray with plastic.
Hoa 輕輕地把每株幼苗周圍的土噴濕，然後用塑膠膜蓋住托盤。
Eitan damped a napkin corner with water and dabbed the ink stain on his shirt.
Eitan 把餐巾一角沾濕，輕輕擦拭襯衫上的墨漬。
- dry
to remove moisture or make something no longer wet
文法句型
damp + [noun] + with [liquid]
用法筆記
In modern English, 'dampen' is far more common than 'damp' for this sense, especially in American English. 'Damp' as a verb meaning 'make wet' is rare outside British English and sounds slightly old-fashioned to many speakers.