sound-dampening
|sound-damp-en-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈsaʊndˌdæmpənɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈsaʊndˌdæmp(ə)nɪŋ/
make sound less strong
Etymology
'sound-dampening' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of 'sound' and the present participle 'dampening' (from the verb 'dampen'), where 'sound' meant 'noise' or 'audible vibration' and 'dampen' meant 'to make less strong or intense.'
'dampen' developed in Middle English as a verb formed from the adjective 'damp' + the suffix '-en' (to cause to be), and later produced the present participle 'dampening'; combining this with 'sound' produced the compound 'sound-dampening' in modern usage.
Initially, 'dampen' could mean 'make slightly wet' or 'moisten'; over time it broadened to mean 'lessen in force or intensity,' which led to figurative uses such as reducing sound (hence 'sound-dampening').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act, process, or material of reducing or absorbing sound; (countable) a device or material used to reduce noise.
The apartment's sound dampening made the street noise almost unnoticeable.
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Adjective 1
reducing, absorbing, or lessening sound; designed to make sound quieter or less intense (often used attributively, e.g., sound-dampening material).
They installed sound-dampening insulation in the studio to reduce echo and outside noise.
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Last updated: 2026/01/10 15:11