impact-damping
|im-pact-damp-ing|
/ˈɪmpækt ˈdæmpɪŋ/
reduce shock/absorb impact
Etymology
'impact-damping' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of the noun 'impact' and the present participle 'damping', where 'impact' meant 'a striking or collision' and 'damping' derived from the verb 'damp' meaning 'to deaden or reduce vibration/energy'.
'impact' comes into English from Latin via French (Latin 'impactus' → Old French/modern French 'impact'), while 'damp' (verb) developed in Middle English as 'dampen' with senses of reducing or deadening; the compound 'impact-damping' is a modern technical formation combining these elements.
Initially the separate parts referred to 'a strike/collision' (impact) and 'the act of deadening or reducing (damp)'; over time their compound has come to mean specifically 'the reduction or absorption of impact energy' in engineering and safety contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the property or process of reducing the force of an impact; the act of absorbing or dissipating shock energy.
The car's crumple zones provide impact-damping during a collision.
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Verb 1
(transitive) To reduce or damp the effect of an impact on something; to absorb or dissipate shock energy.
Engineers impact-damped the mounting brackets to prevent damage.
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Adjective 1
designed or able to reduce impact forces; having the effect of damping impacts.
They installed an impact-damping mat under the machine to protect the floor.
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Last updated: 2025/11/09 01:23