Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Moist
Moist
,Adj.
1.
Moderately wet; damp; humid; not dry;
“Moist eyes.” as, a
. moist
atmosphere or airShak.
2.
Fresh, or new.
[Obs.]
“Shoes full moist and new.” “A draught of moist and corny ale.” Chaucer.
Moist
,Verb.
T.
To moisten.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Moist
MOIST
,Adj.
1.
Moderately wet; damp; as a moist atmosphere or air. Exhalation dusk and moist.
2.
Containing water or other liquid in a perceptible degree.Definition 2024
moist
moist
English
Adjective
moist (comparative moister or more moist, superlative moistest or most moist)
- Slightly wet; characterised by the presence of moisture, not dry; damp. [from 14th c.]
- 1937, "Modernist Miracle", Time, 1 Nov 1937:
- Joseph Smith, a diffident, conscientious young man with moist hands and an awkward, absent-minded manner, was head gardener at Wotton Vanborough.
- 2011, Dominic Streatfeild, The Guardian, 7 Jan 2011:
- "The other car didn't explode," continues Shujaa. "The explosives were a bit moist. They had been stored in a place that was too humid."
- 1937, "Modernist Miracle", Time, 1 Nov 1937:
- Of eyes: tearful, wet with tears. [from 14th c.]
- 1974, "Mitchell and Stans: Not Guilty", Time, 6 Dec 1974:
- Eyes moist, he hugged one of his attorneys and later said: "I feel like I've been reborn."
- 1974, "Mitchell and Stans: Not Guilty", Time, 6 Dec 1974:
- Of weather, climate etc.: rainy, damp. [from 14th c.]
- 2008, Graham Harvey, The Guardian, 8 Sep 2008:
- With its mild, moist climate, Britain is uniquely placed to grow good grass.
- 2008, Graham Harvey, The Guardian, 8 Sep 2008:
- (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.]
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy:
- Pituita, or phlegm, is a cold and moist humour, begotten of the colder parts of the chylus […].
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy:
- (obsolete) Watery, liquid, fluid. [14th-17th c.]
- 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, Hydriotaphia:
- Some being of the opinion of Thales, that water was the originall of all things, thought it most equall to submit unto the principle of putrefaction, and conclude in a moist relentment.
- 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, Hydriotaphia:
- (medicine) Characterised by the presence of pus, mucus etc. [from 14th c.]
- (colloquial) Sexually lubricated (of the ****); sexually aroused, turned on (of a woman). [from 20th c.]
- 2008, Marcia King-Gamble, Meet Phoenix, p. 168:
- He slid a finger in me, checking to make sure I was moist and ready for him.
- 2008, Marcia King-Gamble, Meet Phoenix, p. 168:
Usage notes
Moist is mostly used for agreeable conditions while damp is mainly used for disagreeable conditions:
- moist cake
- damp clothes
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
slightly wet
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of eyes: tearful