douse

American  

[dous] / daʊs /

Or dowse

verb (used with object)

doused, dousing

1. to plunge into water or the like; drench.

   She doused the clothes in soapy water.

2. to splash or throw water or other liquid on.

   The children doused each other with the hose.

3. to extinguish.

   She quickly doused the candle's flame with her fingertips.

4. Informal. to remove; doff.

5. Nautical.

   1. to lower or take in (a sail, mast, or the like) suddenly.

   2. to slacken (a line) suddenly.

   3. to stow quickly.

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verb (used without object)

doused, dousing

1. to plunge or be plunged into a liquid.

noun

1. British Dialect. a stroke or blow.

douse ¹ British  

/ daʊs /

verb

1. to plunge or be plunged into water or some other liquid; duck

2. (tr) to drench with water, esp in order to wash or clean

3. (tr) to put out (a light, candle, etc)

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noun

1. an immersion

douse ² British  

/ daʊs /

verb

1. nautical to lower (sail) quickly

2. archaic to strike or beat

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noun

1. archaic a blow

Other Word Forms

• douser noun

Etymology

Origin of douse

First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Turning the cold water on full force, I soak my hand towel and use it to douse my face and the back of my neck in icy cold.

From Literature

The flames around her exploded, as if someone had doused them in invisible fuel.

From Literature

Some of the more condescending reviews of “Marie Antoinette” made a facile equation between you and your protagonist, as if you were the flippant queen dousing herself in luxury.

From Salon

On Wednesday, Powell broached the issue when dousing speculation about a leadership vacuum.

From The Wall Street Journal

Regular fertilizers such as urea, by contrast, douse plants in nitrogen.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deluge
• drown
• put out
• quench
• saturate
• smother
• snuff out
• soak
• splash
• submerge
• wet