to plunge into water or the like; drench

She doused the clothes in soapy water.

to splash or throw water or other liquid on

The children doused each other with the hose.

to extinguish

She quickly doused the candle's flame with her fingertips.

Informal . to remove; doff.

Nautical .

to lower or take in (a sail, mast, or the like) suddenly.

to slacken (a line) suddenly.

to stow quickly.

to plunge or be plunged into a liquid.

British Dialect . a stroke or blow.

verb

dry

verb

blow out , deluge , drown , duck , dunk , immerse , plunge , put out , quench , saturate , slop , slosh , smother , snuff , snuff out , soak , sop , souse , spatter , splash , splatter , squench , steep , submerge , submerse , wetnotes:douse first meant \'knock , punch , strike\' and now means \'to extinguish or wet thoroughly; dowse means to look for water or minerals with a divining rod , immerge , drench , sodden , dip , doff , downpour , extinguish , rinse