What is the meaning of dampening?

noun

• The act of making something slightly wet.
  • synonyms: moistening

verb

• Smother or suppress.
  • usage: "Stifle your curiosity"
  • synonyms: stifle, dampen
• Make moist.
  • usage: "The dew moistened the meadows"
  • synonyms: moisten, wash, dampen
• Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping.
  • synonyms: muffle, mute, dull, damp, dampen, tone down
• Reduce the amplitude (of oscillations or waves.
  • synonyms: dampen
• Make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible.
  • usage: "muffle the message"
  • synonyms: dampen, deaden, damp
• Check; keep in check (a fire.
  • synonyms: dampen
• Lessen in force or effect.
  • usage: "soften a shock"; "break a fall"
  • synonyms: dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break