Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Wet?

\Wet\ (w[e^]t), a. [Compar. {Wetter}; superl. {Wettest}.] [OE. wet, weet, AS. w[=ae]t; akin to OFries. w[=e]t, Icel. v[=a]tr, Sw. v[*a]t, Dan. vaad, and E. water. [root]137. See {Water}.] 1. Containing, or consisting of, water or other liquid; moist; soaked with a liquid; having water or other liquid upon the surface; as, wet land; a wet cloth; a wet table. ``Wet cheeks.'' --Shak. 2. Very damp; rainy; as, wet weather; a wet season. ``Wet October's torrent flood.'' --Milton. 3. (Chem.) Employing, or done by means of, water or some other liquid; as, the wet extraction of copper, in distinction from dry extraction in which dry heat or fusion is employed. 4. Refreshed with liquor; drunk. [Slang] --Prior. {Wet blanket}, {Wet dock}, etc. See under {Blanket}, {Dock}, etc. {Wet goods}, intoxicating liquors. [Slang] Syn: Nasty; humid; damp; moist. See {Nasty}.
\Wet\, n. [AS. w[=ae]ta. See {Wet}, a.] 1. Water or wetness; moisture or humidity in considerable degree. Have here a cloth and wipe away the wet. --Chaucer. Now the sun, with more effectual beams, Had cheered the face of earth, and dried the wet From drooping plant. --Milton. 2. Rainy weather; foggy or misty weather. 3. A dram; a drink. [Slang]
\Wet\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wet} (rarely {Wetted}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Wetting}.] [AS. w[=ae]tan.] To fill or moisten with water or other liquid; to sprinkle; to cause to have water or other fluid adherent to the surface; to dip or soak in a liquid; as, to wet a sponge; to wet the hands; to wet cloth. ``[The scene] did draw tears from me and wetted my paper.'' --Burke. Ye mists and exhalations, that now rise . . . Whether to deck with clouds the uncolored sky, Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers. --Milton. {To wet one's whistle}, to moisten one's throat; to drink a dram of liquor. [Colloq.] Let us drink the other cup to wet our whistles. --Walton.