mist
n. · v.-
1 weather/atmosphere (n.) B1 Intermediatea thin cloud of very small drops of water in the air, similar to a light fog.
a mass of fine droplets of water or other liquid suspended in the atmosphere, typically reducing visibility to between 1 and 2 kilometres.
ExampleThe morning mist hung over the lake until the sun came out.
ExampleA thick mist rolled in from the Atlantic, obscuring the jagged coastline and forcing the small fishing vessels to return to the harbour early.
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2 a fine spray (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea very fine spray of liquid, like from a bottle or a machine.
a fine spray or cloud of liquid particles, often produced mechanically or by a pressurised container.
ExampleThe perfume bottle released a light mist of scent when she pressed the top.
ExampleThe cooling system in the greenhouse releases a fine mist of water every hour to maintain the humidity required by the tropical ferns.
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3 to spray lightly (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto spray something with very small drops of liquid.
to cover a surface with a fine spray of liquid, often to provide moisture without soaking.
ExampleYou should mist your indoor plants once a week during the summer.
ExampleThe gardener carefully misted the delicate orchids, ensuring the leaves remained hydrated without allowing water to pool in the roots.
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4 to become cloudy (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto become covered with tiny drops of water so you cannot see through it.
to become covered with a film of moisture that obscures vision or transparency; often used with 'up'.
ExampleMy glasses misted up as soon as I walked into the warm kitchen.
ExampleThe bathroom mirror misted over completely while he was taking a hot shower, leaving him unable to see his reflection.
UsageOften used as the phrasal verb 'mist up'.
The noun is from Middle English mist, from Old English mist (“mist; darkness; dimness (of eyesight)”), from Proto-Germanic mihstaz (“mist, fog”), from Proto-Indo-European h₃migʰstos, from the root *h₃meygʰ- (“cloud, fog, drizzle”). Cognate with Scots mist (“mist, fog”), West Frisian mist (“mist”), Dutch mist (“mist”), Swedish mist (“mist, fog”), Icelandic mistur (“mist”), West Frisian miegelje (“to drizzle”), Dutch dialectal miggelen, miegelen (“to drizzle”), Lithuanian miglà (“fog”), Sanskrit मेघ (megha, “cloud”), Russian мгла (mgla, “fog, haze”). The verb is from Middle English misten, from Old English mistian.