dew

Everyday

Dew is the tiny drops of water that form on grass, leaves and other cool surfaces outside, usually at night or early morning. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons dew is an example of condensation: at night the ground cools, and water vapour in the air turns into liquid drops. In everyday life you see dew on the grass in the morning and your shoes get wet. In poems and stories dew makes mornings look fresh and sparkling. Phrases: «morning dew», «wet with dew», «dewdrop», «dew point».

Examples

• The grass was wet with morning dew. tree →
• Dewdrops sparkled on the spider's web. tree →
• Dew forms when the air cools at night. tree →
• My trainers got soaked in the dew. tree →
• By noon the sun had dried the dew. tree →
• The tent was covered in dew this morning. tree →
• Snails come out when there is dew on the ground. tree →
• We saw dew on the car windows. tree →
• A drop of dew fell from the leaves upon the singer's grave. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «dew», not «dews»; one drop is «a dewdrop». Homophones: dew, due (owed, expected), do (in some accents). Dew does not fall from the sky like rain; it forms right where you see it. When it is cold enough, dew becomes frost.

In Jewish tradition

Dew is a sign of blessing and fruitfulness from heaven, and it fell on the camp together with the manna.

Interpretation. Tradition links dew with blessing and, later, with prayers for dew said at the start of the dry season; the manna is seen as a gift wrapped in dew.

Examples

• And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. — (Torah NUM.11.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• So God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. (Torah GEN.27.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Israel dwelleth in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of corn and wine; yea, his heavens drop down dew. (Torah DEU.33.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? (Writings JOB.38.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew. (Writings PRO.3.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch; (Writings JOB.29.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: «dew», not «dews»; one drop is «a dewdrop». Homophones: dew, due (owed, expected), do (in some accents). Dew does not fall from the sky like rain; it forms right where you see it. When it is cold enough, dew becomes frost.