dew

¹

[ doo, dyoo ]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to wet with or as with dew.

DEW

²

[ doo, dyoo ]

1. distant early warning.

dew

/ 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

verb

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

dew

/ 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

Other Words From

• dewless adjective
• un·dewed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dew¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dew¹

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

Example Sentences

As well as rain, they can come from waterfalls, waves in the sea and even morning dew and mist.

From BBC

Firstly, there’s the cooling and condensation process which cools humid air to its dew point, causing water vapour to condense into liquid water.

From BBC

In fact, for chronobiology, which focuses on organisms' internal clocks, this distant relative of the dew worm has become one of the most important model species.

From Science Daily

On a recent morning in March, while dew was still on the road, there occurred the salmon smolt mishap of Northeast Oregon.

From New York Times

And on humid mornings, dew clings to the wings of butterflies, weighing them down and allowing Georgiev to get close.

From National Geographic