Main Entry: ¹wet

Pronunciation: \ˈwet\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): wet·ter; wet·test

Etymology: Middle English, partly from past participle of weten to wet & partly from Old English wǣt wet; akin to Old Norse vātr wet, Old English wæter water

Date: before 12th century

1 a : consisting of, containing, covered with, or soaked with liquid (as water) b of natural gas : containing appreciable quantities of readily condensable hydrocarbons
2 : rainy <wet weather>
3 : still moist enough to smudge or smear <wet paint>
4 a : drunk 1a <a wet driver> b : having or advocating a policy permitting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages <a wet county> <a wet candidate>
5 : preserved in liquid
6 : employing or done by means of or in the presence of water or other liquid <wet extraction of copper>
7 : overly sentimental
8 British a : lacking strength of character : weak, spineless b : belonging to the moderate or liberal wing of the Conservative party

— wet·ly adverb

— wet·ness noun

— all wet : completely wrong : in error

— wet behind the ears : immature, inexperienced

synonyms wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid. wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (as paint) not yet dry <slipped on the wet pavement>. damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture <clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place>. dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness <a prisoner in a cold, dank cell>. moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry <treat the injury with moist heat>. humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air <a hot, humid climate>.