damp /dæmp/ ( dampen /ˈdæmpən/ ) ●ˌdamp sth ˈdown1.to make a fire burn more slowly or stop burning使（火）减弱；熄灭◆Firefighters were damping down the embers hours later. 几小时后，消防队员基本扑灭了余烬。◆He put sand on the fire to try to damp it down. 他试图用沙子把火压灭。◆The fire had been damped down but not extinguished. 火势得到了控制，但尚未熄灭。OBJfire2.if sb/sth damps down an emotion or a feeling, it becomes less strong抑制，控制（情绪或感情）◆She tried to damp down her feelings of despair. 她努力克制自己的绝望情绪。OBJemotions3.if sb/sth damps down a situation or an activity, it becomes slower or weaker缓和（局势）；减缓（速度）◆The latest increase in interest rates has damped down activity in the housing market. 最近的加息抑制了住房市场交易。4. (rare) to make a surface slightly wet by spraying a small amount of water over it洒水打湿（表面）[v + adv + n][v + pron + adv][v + n + adv] (rare)