dew

¹ American  

[doo, dyoo] / du, dyu /

noun

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

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

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

4. Informal.

   1. Scotch whisky.

   2. mountain dew.

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verb (used with object)

1. to wet with or as with dew.

DEW ² American  

[doo, dyoo] / du, dyu /

1. distant early warning.

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dew British  

/ djuː /

noun

1. 1. drops of water condensed on a cool surface, esp at night, from vapour in the air

   2. ( in combination )

      dewdrop

2. something like or suggestive of this, esp in freshness

   the dew of youth

3. small drops of moisture, such as tears

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verb

1. poetic (tr) to moisten with or as with dew

dew Scientific  

/ do̅o̅ /

1. 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.

2. See also frost

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Other Word Forms

• dewless adjective
• undewed adjective

Etymology

Origin of dew

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

Example Sentences

In the absence of dew, which makes it harder for bowlers to grip the ball, the pitch at Wankhede Stadium offered more turn than any other at this World Cup so far.

From BBC

With dew not playing a part in making the ball harder to grip for the West Indies bowlers, it proved too much for England when the ball turned.

From BBC

"Obviously, dew might play a factor in some different grounds," said Brook.

From Barron's

The cobblestoned path, glistening from the morning dew, is slippery under my feet.

From Literature

That could be it for the day: three licks of dew and a beetle.

From Literature