douse
/daʊs/ (bre, ipa) · /daʊs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdau̇s also ˈdau̇z/ (ame, mw)
douse — verb
- dousepresent simple I / you / we / they
- douseshe / she / it
- dousedpast simple
- dousing-ing form
1. to cover a person or thing in a liquid by pouring it heavily over them, making t
to cover a person or thing in a liquid by pouring it heavily over them, making them completely wet.
Mei-Lin doused her younger sister with a bucket of cold water as a joke.
douse + object + with + liquid (bucket of water)
The firefighter doused the burning curtains before the flames could reach the ceiling.
Javier accidentally doused his new shirt in red wine at the dinner party.
文法句型
douse + object + with/in + liquid
用法筆記
Often used in the passive: 'The spectators were doused with water.' Object is usually a person, object, or area that becomes wet.
常見錯誤
2. to make a fire or flame stop burning, or a light stop shining, usually by using
to make a fire or flame stop burning, or a light stop shining, usually by using water or blocking the air around it.
Kenji doused the campfire with sand before heading back to the tent for the night.
douse + fire + with + covering material (sand)
Amina quickly doused the candle when the smoke alarm began to beep.
Heavy rain finally doused the wildfire that had threatened the mountain village for a week.
- extinguish
more formal; the standard term for putting out fires
- put out
more common in everyday conversation
- quench
usually used for thirst or hot metal, not typically for fires
文法句型
douse + object (fire, flame, candle, light)
用法筆記
When referring to lights or candles, 'douse' is slightly informal compared to 'extinguish'. For large fires, 'put out' is more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
3. to put something into a liquid for a short time and then remove it, usually in o
to put something into a liquid for a short time and then remove it, usually in order to wet it, add a coating, or clean it.
Ingrid doused the paintbrush in water to remove the leftover blue paint.
douse + object + in + liquid (for cleaning)
Omar doused the armful of willow branches into the stream, holding them under for only a moment to soften the bark.
douse + object + into + liquid (brief forceful immersion)
文法句型
douse + object + in/into + liquid
用法筆記
This sense is less common in modern English; 'dip' or 'plunge' are used more often for this meaning. 'Douse' in this sense suggests a quicker, more forceful action than 'dip'.
常見錯誤
4. to pull a sail, flag, or similar object down very quickly, especially on a ship
to pull a sail, flag, or similar object down very quickly, especially on a ship in an emergency.
The crew doused the mainsail when the sudden storm hit the boat.
nautical: douse + sail (mainsail)
Dimitri doused the ship's flag as a sign of respect when the admiral's vessel passed by.
文法句型
douse + object (sail, flag)
用法筆記
This sense belongs almost entirely to nautical language. On land, 'lower' or 'take down' is used instead.
5. to let out a rope, cable, or line so that it becomes looser and less tight.
to let out a rope, cable, or line so that it becomes looser and less tight.
Anita told Boris to douse the mooring line so the boat could drift closer to the dock.
nautical: douse + rope (mooring line)
The sailor doused the anchor rope a little so the chain would not snap under the pressure.
文法句型
douse + object (rope, line, cable)
用法筆記
This nautical sense is the rarest use of 'douse'. In modern speech, 'loosen', 'slacken', or 'let out' are much more common.
douse — noun
1. an occasion when a person or object becomes completely wet from a large amount o
an occasion when a person or object becomes completely wet from a large amount of liquid, especially water.
The old wooden boat took a heavy douse of seawater when the wave crashed over the side.
countable noun: 'a douse of [liquid]'
用法筆記
This noun form is uncommon. Most speakers would say 'a soaking' or 'a drenching' instead.
2. a hard hit or strike delivered with the hand, a tool, or an object during fighti
a hard hit or strike delivered with the hand, a tool, or an object during fighting or sport.
In the old sailor's tale, the boatswain gave the careless deckhand a sharp douse across the back.
archaic: historical nautical context for 'blow' meaning
用法筆記
This sense is archaic — it comes from the 16th-century meaning 'to strike' and is no longer used in modern English. 'Blow', 'strike', or 'hit' should be used instead.