Meaning of douse in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /daʊs/

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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 »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

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