dew

UK: /ˈdjuː/ US: /du, dju/ ,(do̅o̅, dyo̅o̅)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dew /du, dyu/   n. [uncountable]

1. Meteorology moisture from the atmosphere, esp. at night, and deposited in small drops upon a cool surface:
   beads of dew.

dew•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dew  (do̅o̅, dyo̅o̅), n. 

1. Meteorology moisture condensed from the atmosphere, esp. at night, and deposited in the form of small drops upon any cool surface.
2. something like or compared to such drops of moisture, as in purity, delicacy, or refreshing quality.
3. moisture in small drops on a surface, as tears or perspiration.
4. [Informal.]
   • See Scotch whisky. 
   • See mountain dew. 

v.t. 

5. to wet with or as with dew.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English dēaw; cognate with German Tau, Old Norse dǫgg

dew′less, adj. 

DEW  (do̅o̅, dyo̅o̅), 

1. Military distant early warning. Cf. DEW line.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dew / djuː/ noun

1. drops of water condensed on a cool surface, esp at night, from vapour in the air
2. something like or suggestive of this, esp in freshness: the dew of youth
3. small drops of moisture, such as tears

verb

1. (transitive) to moisten with or as with dew

Etymology: Old English dēaw; related to Old High German tou dew, Old Norse dögg