wet

Pronunciation: /wɛt/

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Definition of wet

adjective (wetter, wettest)

1covered or saturated with water or another liquid:she followed, slipping on the wet rock
(of the weather) rainy:a wet, windy evening
(of paint, ink, plaster, or a similar substance) not yet having dried or hardened: the waterproofer can easily be washed off while it is still wet
(of a baby or young child) having urinated in its nappy or underwear: the baby was wet and needed changing
involving the use of water or liquid:wet methods of photography
Nautical (of a ship) liable to take in water over her bows or sides.

2British informal showing a lack of forcefulness or strength of character; feeble:they thought the cadets were a bit wet
Conservative with liberal tendencies, especially as regarded by right-wing Conservatives: they came across as the most liberal or wet members of the government

3 informal (of a country or region or of its legislation) allowing the free sale of alcoholic drink.
(of a person) addicted to or drinking alcohol: our programme depends on our willingness to help other alcoholics, both wet and dry

verb (wets, wetting; past and past participle wet or wetted)

[with object]

cover or touch with liquid; moisten:he wetted a finger and flicked through the pages (as noun wetting)it was a velvet cap, and a wetting would ruin it
(especially of a baby or young child) urinate in or on:while dreaming the child wet the bed
(wet oneself) urinate involuntarily: she was going to wet herself from fear
dialect infuse (tea) by pouring on boiling water: she said she’d wet the tea immediately because they must be parched

noun

1 [mass noun] liquid that makes something damp:I could feel the wet of his tears
(the wet) rainy weather:the race was held in the wet
[count noun] British informal a drink:I took a wet from my bottle

2British informal a person lacking forcefulness or strength of character: there are sorts who look like gangsters and sorts who look like wets
a Conservative with liberal tendencies: the wets favoured a change in economic policy

3US a person opposed to the prohibition of alcohol.

Phrases

all wet: North American completely wrong: I may be all wet on this point
wet the baby's head: British informal celebrate a baby’s birth with a drink, typically an alcoholic one.
wet behind the ears: informal lacking experience; immature: he’s a nice young fellow but a bit wet behind the ears
wet through (or to the skin): with one’s clothes soaked; completely drenched: she was wet through and felt cold
wet one's whistle: informal have a drink: they meet ostensibly to discuss politics, but also to wet their whistles with brandy and soda

Derivatives

wetly
wetness
wettable
wettish

Origin:

Old English wǣt (adjective and noun), wǣtan (verb); related to water

Do not confuse whet with wet. Whet means 'excite someone’s interest or appetite' (this recipe should whet your appetite), whereas wet means 'covered or saturated with liquid' (I slipped on the wet rock) or 'make someone or something wet' (he wet his lips, then spoke).

wet in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of wet in the US English dictionary

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wet

adjective (wetter, wettest)

verb (wets, wetting; past and past participle wet or wetted)

noun

Phrases

all wet

wet the baby's head

wet behind the ears

wet through (or to the skin)

wet one's whistle

Derivatives

wetly

wetness

wettable

wettish

Origin:

wet in other Oxford dictionaries

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