dew

[ doo, dyoo ]

/ du, dyu /

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noun

moisture condensed from the atmosphere, especially at night, and deposited in the form of small drops upon any cool surface.

something like or compared to such drops of moisture, as in purity, delicacy, or refreshing quality.

moisture in small drops on a surface, as tears or perspiration.

Informal.

verb (used with object)

to wet with or as with dew.

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Origin of dew

before 900; Middle English; Old English dēaw; cognate with German Tau,Old Norse dǫgg

OTHER WORDS FROM dew

dewless, adjectiveun·dewed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dew

dew , do, due

Words nearby dew

De Voto, devour, devout, Devoy, De Vries, dew, dewan, Dewar, Dewar flask, Dewar vessel, dewater

Other definitions for dew (2 of 2)

DEW

[ doo, dyoo ]

/ du, dyu /

distant early warning.

Compare DEW line.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dew in a sentence

When it reaches a certain temperature — known as the dew point — any excess moisture will condense out onto surfaces, such as leaves.
Dew collector brings water to thirsty plants|Melissa L. Weber|January 18, 2021|Science News For Students
It was during a weekend, on a morning when the streets were still vacant and the dew was patterned and crisp across the neighborhood fences.
Fiction: Quiet earth philosophy|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
A station plot The basic station plot shows temperature, dew point, wind direction, wind speed, cloud cover, precipitation, and air pressure, which are all measured at weather stations around the globe.
How to Read a Surface Weather Map|Dennis Mersereau|October 15, 2020|Outside Online
On those monstrous afternoons where the dew point is in the mid-70s, covering your airways while running really doesn’t enhance the experience—or it does, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for.
The Sublime Agony of Hot-Weather Running|Martin Fritz Huber|August 27, 2020|Outside Online

The Spire, like most fountains, has the basics -- Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Brisk Iced Tea and SoBe Lifewater.
Font of Invention||September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cars in the cross alley are covered with a silver glaze of dew.
Stanley Booth on the Life and Hard Times of Blues Genius Furry Lewis|Stanley Booth|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If he gets rid of foam cups, where am I going to put my 32oz Mountain Dew?
Bloomberg Crosses the Thin Foam Line|Ilana Glazer|February 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mark Cuban Does the Diet Dew Would you trade a private island for a pop?
Tony Scott’s High-Impact Commercials: BMW, Mountain Dew, Marlboro, Dodge & Others|The Daily Beast Video|August 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But he did not impose a tax or penalty on those who drink Mountain Dew, and he would not, because the mere idea is preposterous.
Seven More Thoughts on the Decision|Michael Tomasky|June 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mary is fair as the morning dew— Cheeks of roses and ribbons of blue!
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The falling dew, and the howling wind raised him not from that bed of lonely despair.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
I ain't a gwine ter back daown naow; but I dew jest wish Jeff Hyer wuz along.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Her beauty seemed fresh made; he thought of a wild rose washed by the dew and sparkling in the sunlight.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for dew

dew

/ (djuː) /

noun

drops of water condensed on a cool surface, esp at night, from vapour in the air
(in combination)dewdrop

something like or suggestive of this, esp in freshnessthe dew of youth

small drops of moisture, such as tears

verb

(tr) poetic to moisten with or as with dew

Word Origin for dew

Old English dēaw; related to Old High German tou dew, Old Norse dögg

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for dew

dew

[ dōō ]

Water droplets condensed from the air, usually at night, onto cool surfaces near the ground. Dew forms when the temperature of the surfaces falls below the dew point of the surrounding air, usually due to radiational cooling. See also frost.