Dam vs. Damp — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 27, 2023
A "Dam" is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water, while "Damp" refers to slight wetness or moisture.
Difference Between Dam and Damp
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Key Differences
The words Dam and Damp may sound similar, but they represent entirely different concepts. Dam primarily refers to a man-made structure or barrier designed to hold back or divert the flow of water in rivers, streams, or reservoirs. Such structures are pivotal for purposes like irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood control. Conversely, Damp is an adjective that describes a state of minimal wetness or moisture, not soaked but slightly wet.
Venturing into their usage, Dam often conjures images of large concrete structures holding vast bodies of water. These barriers are feats of engineering, designed to manage water resources, provide electricity, or create recreational areas. On the other hand, Damp is a word you'd associate with sensation or touch. It describes objects or surfaces that are not dry but not completely wet either, like a towel after being wrung out.
When considering their origins, Dam comes from Middle English, rooted in the concept of blocking or stopping something. It's a testament to the primary function of such structures. Meanwhile, Damp originates from the Germanic word dampen, which means "to suffocate." This could allude to the stifling or suppressing nature of moisture.
Damp can also be used in various contexts beyond just describing moisture. It might pertain to spirits or enthusiasm, as in someone being "dampened" by bad news. Dam, in contrast, remains more rigid in its usage, primarily referring to the water barrier.
In essence, while Dam and Damp might sound alike, they are distinct both in meaning and application. One represents a tangible structure influencing landscapes, while the other captures a sensation or state of being.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective/Noun
Meaning
A barrier for water.
Slight wetness or moisture.
Usage
Refers to man-made structures.
Describes a state or sensation.
Origins
Middle English, related to blocking.
Germanic, possibly related to "suffocate."
Contextual Use
Specific to water barriers.
Can refer to wetness or the decrease of enthusiasm.
Compare with Definitions
Dam
Something that blocks or restrains
He built a dam in the stream to create a small pond.
Damp
To make slightly wet
She used a cloth to damp the fevered brow.
Dam
A female parent of an animal, especially a horse
The horse's dam won several races.
Damp
Moist air or gas
The basement had a feeling of damp.
Dam
To block or stop up with a barrier
They decided to dam the river to generate electricity.
Damp
Slightly wet
A damp sponge.
Dam
To provide or equip with a dam
The community's plan was to dam up the river for water storage.
Damp
Humid
Damp air.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability.
Damp
(Archaic) Dejected; depressed.
Dam
A barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply
The dam burst after torrential rain
The Hoover Dam
Damp
Moisture in the air; humidity
Come in out of the damp.
Dam
A rubber sheet used to keep saliva from the teeth during dental operations, or as a prophylactic device during cunnilingus and anilingus.
Damp
Moisture that lies or has condensed on something
“I saw the damp lying on the bare hedges and spare grass” (Charles Dickens).
Dam
The female parent of an animal, especially a domestic mammal.
Damp
Foul or poisonous gas that sometimes pollutes the air in coal mines.
Dam
Build a dam across (a river or lake)
The river was dammed to form Lake Powell
Damp
Lowness of spirits; depression
“An angry or sorrowful [countenance] throws a sudden damp upon me” (David Hume).
Dam
A barrier constructed across a waterway to control the flow or raise the level of water.
Damp
A restraint or check; a discouragement
“The issue of arms was so slow as to throw a great damp upon volunteering” (James Franck Bright).
Dam
A body of water controlled by such a barrier.
Damp
To make damp or moist; moisten.
Dam
A barrier against the passage of liquid or loose material, as a rubber sheet used in dentistry to isolate one or more teeth from the rest of the mouth.
Damp
To suppress or extinguish (a fire) by reducing or cutting off air.
Dam
A female parent of an animal, especially a domesticated mammal such as a horse.
Damp
To restrain or check
News that damped our enthusiasm.
Dam
(Archaic) A mother.
Damp
(Music) To slow or stop the vibrations of (the strings of a keyboard instrument) with a damper.
Dam
To hold back or confine by means of a dam.
Damp
(Physics) To decrease the amplitude of (an oscillating system).
Dam
To close up; obstruct
He tried to dam his grief.
Damp
In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist.
The lawn was still damp so we decided not to sit down.
The paint is still damp, so please don't touch it.
Dam
A structure placed across a flowing body of water to stop the flow or part of the flow, generally for purposes such as retaining or diverting some of the water or retarding the release of accumulated water to avoid abrupt flooding.
A dam is often an essential source of water to farmers of hilly country.
Damp
(figuratively) Despondent; dispirited, downcast.
Dam
The water reservoir resulting from placing such a structure.
Boats may only be used at places set aside for boating on the dam.
Damp
Permitting the possession of alcoholic beverages, but not their sale.}}
Dam
(dentistry) A device to prevent a tooth from getting wet during dental work, consisting of a rubber sheet held with a band.
Damp
Moisture; humidity; dampness.
Dam
A reservoir.
Damp
(archaic) Fog; fogginess; vapor.
Dam
A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.
Damp
(archaic) Dejection or depression; something that spoils a positive emotion (such as enjoyment, satisfaction, expectation or courage) or a desired activity.
Dam
Female parent, mother, generally regarding breeding of animals.
Damp
A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pits, etc.
Dam
A kind of crowned piece in the game of draughts.
Damp
To dampen; to make moderately wet
To damp cloth
Dam
(India) An obsolete Indian copper coin, equal to a fortieth of a rupee.
Damp
To put out, as fire; to weaken, restrain, or make dull.
Dam
A former coin of Nepal, 128 of which were worth one mohar.
Damp
(transitive) To suppress vibrations (mechanical) or oscillations (electrical) by converting energy to heat (or some other form of energy).
Dam
(transitive) To block the flow of water.
Damp
Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.
Night . . . with black airAccompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom.
Dam
Damn.
Damp
Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.
Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence,A secret damp of grief comes o'er my soul.
It must have thrown a damp over your autumn excursion.
Dam
Damn.
Damp
A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.
Dam
A female parent; - used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.
Our sire and dam, now confined to horses, are a relic of this age (13th century) . . . .Dame is used of a hen; we now make a great difference between dame and dam.
The dam runs lowing up and down,Looking the way her harmless young one went.
Damp
Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.
O'erspread with a damp sweat and holy fear.
Dam
A king or crowned piece in the game of draughts.
Damp
Dejected; depressed; sunk.
All these and more came flocking, but with looksDowncast and damp.
Dam
A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth, or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water.
Damp
To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth.
Dam
A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.
Damp
To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage.
Usury dulls and damps all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug.
How many a day has been damped and darkened by an angry word!
The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit of the soldiers.
Dam
To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; - generally used with in or up.
I'll have the current in this place dammed up.
A weight of earth that dams in the water.
Damp
A slight wetness
Dam
To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.
The strait pass was dammedWith dead men hurt behind, and cowards.
Damp
Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
Dam
A barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
Damp
Restrain or discourage;
The sudden bad news damped the joyous atmosphere
Dam
A metric unit of length equal to ten meters
Damp
Make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible;
Muffle the message
Dam
Female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock
Damp
Lessen in force or effect;
Soften a shock
Break a fall
Dam
Obstruct with, or as if with, a dam;
Dam the gorges of the Yangtse River
Damp
Slightly wet;
Clothes damp with perspiration
A moist breeze
Eyes moist with tears
Dam
A barrier constructed to hold back water
The Hoover Dam is a marvel of modern engineering.
Damp
Decrease in intensity
The news put a damp on the celebrations.
Damp
To stifle or suffocate
She tried to damp down her excitement.
Common Curiosities
Can Dam be used as a verb?
Yes, as in "They dammed the river."
Can Damp be used as a noun?
Yes, as in "the basement has a damp."
Are Dam and Damp synonyms?
No, Dam refers to a water barrier while Damp describes slight wetness.
Can Dam refer to an animal parent?
Yes, especially referring to the female parent of a horse.
Is a Dam always related to water?
Primarily yes, but it can also mean a barrier or a female parent in animal contexts.
Is the Hoover Dam a type of Damp?
No, it's a type of Dam.
Can you "damp" enthusiasm?
Yes, in contexts like "The news put a damp on the celebrations."
Which word describes a sensation?
Damp describes the sensation of slight wetness.
What's the difference between "dampen" and "damp"?
"Dampen" is a verb meaning to make slightly wet, while "damp" can be an adjective or noun.
Does Damp mean completely wet?
No, it means slightly or moderately wet.
Which word is primarily a noun?
Dam is primarily a noun.
Can Damp be used in emotional contexts?
Yes, as in dampening one's spirits or enthusiasm.
Is a Dam only a man-made structure?
Primarily, but it can also refer to natural barriers.
Does Damp always refer to water moisture?
Mostly, but it can also describe other forms of slight wetness or moisture.
Are both words of Germanic origin?
Damp has Germanic roots, while Dam is from Middle English.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
