dowse

UK: /daʊz/ US: /daʊs/ ,(dous for 1; douz for 2)

Inflections of 'dowse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

dowses

v 3rd person singular

dowsing

v pres p

dowsed

v past

dowsed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dowse¹ /daʊs/   v., dowsed, dows•ing. 

1. douse.

dowse² /daʊz/   v. [no object] , dowsed, dows•ing. 

1. to search for underground sources of water, metal, etc., using a divining rod.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dowse¹  (dous), v.t., v.i., dowsed, dows•ing, n. 

1. douse.

dowse²  (douz), v., dowsed, dows•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to search for underground supplies of water, metal, etc., by the use of a divining rod.

v.t. 

2. to search for (as water) by or as if by dowsing.

• 1685–95; origin, originally dialect, dialectal (SW England); origin, originally obscure

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dowse / daʊs/ verb , noun

1. a variant spelling of douse1

dowse / daʊz/ verb

1. (intransitive) to search for underground water, minerals, etc, using a divining rod; divine

Etymology: 17th Century: of unknown origin

ˈdowser noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

douse /daʊs/   v. [~ + object] , doused, dous•ing. 

1. to throw water on:
   We doused the children with the hose.
2. to extinguish;
   put out:
   to douse a candle.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

douse  (dous), v., doused, dous•ing, n., 
v.t. 

1. to plunge into water or the like;
   drench:
   She doused the clothes in soapy water.
2. to splash or throw water or other liquid on:
   The children doused each other with the hose.
3. to extinguish:
   She quickly doused the candle's flame with her fingertips.
4. [Informal.] to remove;
   doff.
5. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms to lower or take in (a sail, mast, or the like) suddenly.
   • Naval Terms to slacken (a line) suddenly.
   • Naval Terms to stow quickly.

v.i. 

6. to plunge or be plunged into a liquid.

n. 

7. British Terms a stroke or blow.

Also, dowse. 

• origin, originally uncertain 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

douse, dowse / daʊs/ verb

1. to plunge or be plunged into water or some other liquid; duck
2. (transitive) to drench with water, esp in order to wash or clean
3. (transitive) to put out (a light, candle, etc)

noun

1. an immersion

Etymology: 16th Century: perhaps related to obsolete douse to strike, of obscure origin