Moist

1. Slightly wet; characterised by the presence of moisture, not dry; damp. [from 14th c.]
2. Of eyes: tearful, wet with tears. [from 14th c.]
3. Of weather, climate etc.: rainy, damp. [from 14th c.]
4. (sciences, now historical) Pertaining to one of the four essential qualities formerly believed to be present in all things, characterised by wetness. [from 14th c.]
5. (obsolete) Watery, liquid, fluid. [14th-17th c.]
6. (medicine) Characterised by the presence of pus, mucus etc. [from 14th c.]
7. (colloquial) Sexually lubricated (of the vagina); sexually aroused, turned on (of a woman). [from 20th c.]

Usage notesEdit

Moist is mostly used for agreeable conditions while damp is mainly used for disagreeable conditions:

• moist cake
• damp clothes

SynonymsEdit

• dank
• damp
• thone/thoan (dialect)