damping
|damp-ing|
/ˈdæmpɪŋ/
(damp)
slightly wet
Etymology
'damping' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'damp', where the root meant 'moisture' or 'vapor'.
'damp' in Old English continued into Middle English as 'damp'; the verb sense 'to make moist' and the nominal sense survived, and the verbal form plus the suffix '-ing' produced the modern English gerund/participle 'damping'.
Initially it meant 'moisture' or 'to make moist', but over time it also developed the specialized sense 'to reduce vibration or intensity (by dissipating energy)', which is widely used in physics and engineering today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in physics and engineering, the reduction of the amplitude of oscillations or vibrations caused by dissipative forces; the process or property that removes energy from a vibrating system.
The damping of the suspension prevents the car from continuing to oscillate after hitting a bump.
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Noun 2
the action or process of making something slightly wet or moist.
They recommended the damping of the cloth before polishing the wood.
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Adjective 1
causing or providing reduction or suppression (often of motion, oscillation, or intensity); serving to damp or deaden.
They installed a damping mechanism to reduce noise from the machine.
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Last updated: 2025/09/05 05:10