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dew(1) (iou)



dew noun. ['dju:]

The moisture deposited in minute drops on any cool surface by the condensation of atmospheric vapour between evening and morning. OE.
Wordsworth The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink. Lytton Arch and blooming faces bowed down to bathe in the May dew. M. Shadbolt The paddocks glittered with dew under the cool early sun.
fig. Something likened to dew as coming with refreshing power or with gentleness, or as characteristic of the morning. ME.
Shelley Sleep, that healing dew of heaven. Longfellow Having the dew of his youth, and the beauty thereof.
Moisture, a liquid, esp. when formed in minute drops or glistening; esp. (a) tears; (b) sweat. ME.
mountain dew: see MOUNTAIN.
Southey The dews of death Stood on his livid cheek. Sir W. Scott Those poor eyes that stream'd with dew.
An exudation or surface deposit on a plant etc. (Earlier in MILDEW.) Now rare exc. in HONEYDEW, MILDEW. M16.
Comb.: dew-beater (a) an early pioneer; (b) in pl. (slang), feet; dewberry (a) (the fruit of) a trailing European bramble, Rubus caesius, the berries of which are covered with a bluish bloom; any of several low-growing N. American brambles, esp. Rubus flagellaris; (b) obsolete exc. dial. a gooseberry; dewbow an arch resembling a rainbow, occurring on a dew-covered surface; dew-cup Scot. the plant lady's mantle; dewdrop a drop of dew; something resembling a drop of dew; dewdropped adjective covered or glistening with dew; dewfall the deposition of dew; the time when this begins; dew point Meteorology the atmospheric temperature (dependent on pressure and humidity) below which dew is deposited, i.e., at which the pressure of atmospheric water vapour becomes equal to saturation vapour pressure; dew-pond a shallow (usu. artificial) pond (maintained largely by precipitation) situated on downs where there is no adequate groundwater supply; dew-rake a rake for removing grass or stubble; dew-ret verb trans. ret or macerate (flax, hemp, etc.) by prolonged exposure to atmospheric moisture instead of by steeping in water (opp. water-ret); dew-snail (now dial.) a slug; dew-worm (a) ringworm; (b) an earthworm.
dewless adjective E17.