MOISTENING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does moistening mean? 

• MOISTENING (noun)
  The noun MOISTENING has 1 sense:

1. the act of making something slightly wet

  Familiarity information: MOISTENING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOISTENING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of making something slightly wet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dampening; moistening

Hypernyms ("moistening" is a kind of...):

wetting (the act of making something wet)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "moistening"):

basting (moistening a roast as it is cooking)

Derivation:

moisten (make moist)

moisten (moisten with fine drops)

 Context examples 

Holmes opened the case, and moistening his finger he passed it along the shoe.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"A Mexican with a knife, miss," he answered, moistening his parched lips and clearing his throat.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Go on," said Harker hoarsely; so he bowed his head and moistening his lips with his tongue, added: "except that the poor fellow is dead."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)