dämpa

Dämpa is a Swedish verb meaning to dampen, suppress, or soften the strength of something. It is used for physical effects—such as noise, light, heat, or vibrations—as well as for abstract phenomena such as emotions or tensions. The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object, for example "dämpa ljudet" (to dampen the sound) or "dämpa en impuls" (to dampen an impulse).

In acoustics and noise control, damping reduces sound energy by absorption, reflection, or scattering. Materials such as foam, textiles, or mineral wool can damp sound, and rooms or enclosures are designed to dampen noise.

In mechanical engineering, damping refers to devices or techniques that reduce vibrations or shocks, such as dampers and shock absorbers or flexible mounts.

In electronics and signal processing, to damp a signal means to attenuate its amplitude; damping or attenuation describes the degree of this weakening, often quantified by a damping factor or ratio in more formal contexts.

In physics and control theory, damping denotes energy loss in oscillatory systems, leading to decay of motion over time. The damping ratio describes whether a system is underdamped, critically damped, or overdamped. The term is also used figuratively in everyday language to dampen anger, excitement, or the impact of a policy or reaction.

Related terms include dämpning (damping) and dämpare (damper).