Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A substance that promotes retention of moisture.
  • adjective Promoting retention of moisture.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Moistening; diluent.
  • noun A substance regarded as tending to increase the fluidity of the blood.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective obsolete, obsolete Diluent.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun any substance that promotes the retention of water, especially one used to keep a food product moist

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any substance that is added to another substance to keep it moist

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Latin hūmectāns, hūmectānt-, present participle of hūmectāre, to moisten, from hūmectus, moist, from hūmēre, to be moist.]

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Examples

  • It is being produced at the absolutely lovely Williamstown Theatre Festival, located in the absolutely lovely town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, a haven for the creative spirit, a healing balm for those who spend the lion's share of their time trying to matter in the garish narcissopolis of Los Angeles or the humectant crush of New York; a place where burgeoning young artists can, you know, burgeon.

    Steven Weber: Thanks, Art! Steven Weber 2011

  • It is being produced at the absolutely lovely Williamstown Theatre Festival, located in the absolutely lovely town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, a haven for the creative spirit, a healing balm for those who spend the lion's share of their time trying to matter in the garish narcissopolis of Los Angeles or the humectant crush of New York; a place where burgeoning young artists can, you know, burgeon.

    Steven Weber: Thanks, Art! Steven Weber 2011

  • It is being produced at the absolutely lovely Williamstown Theatre Festival, located in the absolutely lovely town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, a haven for the creative spirit, a healing balm for those who spend the lion's share of their time trying to matter in the garish narcissopolis of Los Angeles or the humectant crush of New York; a place where burgeoning young artists can, you know, burgeon.

    Steven Weber: Thanks, Art! Steven Weber 2011

  • It is being produced at the absolutely lovely Williamstown Theatre Festival, located in the absolutely lovely town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, a haven for the creative spirit, a healing balm for those who spend the lion's share of their time trying to matter in the garish narcissopolis of Los Angeles or the humectant crush of New York; a place where burgeoning young artists can, you know, burgeon.

    Steven Weber: Thanks, Art! Steven Weber 2011

  • It is being produced at the absolutely lovely Williamstown Theatre Festival, located in the absolutely lovely town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, a haven for the creative spirit, a healing balm for those who spend the lion's share of their time trying to matter in the garish narcissopolis of Los Angeles or the humectant crush of New York; a place where burgeoning young artists can, you know, burgeon.

    Steven Weber: Thanks, Art! Steven Weber 2011

  • Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties, which means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey love.

    Anna Brones: 20 Unusual Uses for Honey Anna Brones 2011

  • Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties, which means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey love.

    Anna Brones: 20 Unusual Uses for Honey Anna Brones 2011

  • Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties, which means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey love.

    Anna Brones: 20 Unusual Uses for Honey Anna Brones 2011

  • Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties, which means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey love.

    Anna Brones: 20 Unusual Uses for Honey Anna Brones 2011

  • It is being produced at the absolutely lovely Williamstown Theatre Festival, located in the absolutely lovely town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, a haven for the creative spirit, a healing balm for those who spend the lion's share of their time trying to matter in the garish narcissopolis of Los Angeles or the humectant crush of New York; a place where burgeoning young artists can, you know, burgeon.

    Steven Weber: Thanks, Art! Steven Weber 2011

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