Meaning of douse in English

1. Pronunciation

   /daʊs/

   US accent

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   UK accent

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1. Verb

   douse

   Etymology

   early 17th century: perhaps imitative, influenced by souse, or perhaps from dialect douse ‘strike, beat’, from Middle Dutch and Low German dossen

   Definitions

   1. put out, as of a candle or a light

   Examples

   • « Douse the lights »
2. 2. wet thoroughly
3. 3. dip into a liquid

   Examples

   • « He dipped into the pool »
4. 4. immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate

   Examples

   • « dip the garment into the cleaning solution »
   • « dip the brush into the paint »
5. 5. lower quickly

   Examples

   • « douse a sail »
6. 6. slacken

   Examples

   • « douse a rope »
7. 7. cover with liquid

   Examples

   • « pour liquid onto »
   • « souse water on his hot face »