dowse

also
intr.v., dowsed, also doused, dows·ing, dous·ing, dows·es, dous·es.
To use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals.

[Origin unknown.]

(douz)
verb tr., intr.
To search for underground water or minerals with a divining rod. [Of obscure origin

Dowsing is usually performed using a forked twig. With one end in each hand and the third end pointing out, a dowser walks forward and the pointer is supposed to lead towards water and vibrate when near water. There are even various societies of dowsers, for example, dowsers.org. An argument refuting the claims of dowsing: randi.org/library/dowsing/.

The word is also a variant spelling of the word douse.

Usage
"[Edith Greene] found water for the town of Montgomery when a paid hydrologist couldn't. She is a person who spends a good part of her time dowsing, and not just for water." — Elizabeth Bingham; Dowser, Esoteric Healer to Speak at Dowsing Meeting; County Courier (Enosburg, Vermont); Jul 21, 2005.

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IN BRIEF: n. - Searching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod v. - Cover with liquid; Slacken; Use a divining rod in search of underground water or metal; Wet thoroughly.

Tutor's tip: You could "dowse" (to search for water or minerals with a special stick) for water in the desert if you want to "douse" (to make wet) your head when you get hot.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: searching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod
  Synonyms: dowsing, rhabdomancy

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The verb dowse has 4 meanings:

Meaning #1: wet thoroughly
  Synonym: douse

Meaning #2: use a divining rod in search of underground water or metal

Meaning #3: slacken
  Synonym: douse

Meaning #4: cover with liquid; pour liquid onto
  Synonyms: drench, douse, soak, sop, souse

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Dansk (Danish)
1.
v. tr. - vise vand, finde vand
v. intr. - søge vand med pilekvist

2.
v. tr. - overøse, dyppe i vand, kaste i vandet, slukke, slække, stryge
v. intr. - falde i vandet
n. - gennemvanding

Nederlands (Dutch)
met wichelroede water zoeken, strijken, uitdoen (licht), water gooien over

Français (French)
1.
v. tr. - faire de l'hydroscopie, faire de la radiesthésie (pour chercher du minerai, etc)
v. intr. - faire de l'hydroscopie, faire de la radiesthésie (pour chercher du minerai, etc)

2.
v. tr. - tremper, noyer, éteindre
v. intr. - plonger/être plongé (dans un liquide)
n. - immersion totale, trempage

Deutsch (German)
1.
v. - mit der Wünschelrute suchen

2.
v. - ausmachen, übergießen
n. - (BrE) Schlag, (Met) Niederschlag

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - ραβδοσκοπώ

Italiano (Italian)
cercar minerali con la bacchetta, ammanettare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - praticar rabdomancia

Русский (Russian)
гасить, заливать водой, искать воду или минералы с помощью лозы

Español (Spanish)
1.
v. tr. - buscar yacimientos con varilla divinatoria
v. intr. - buscar yacimientos con varilla divinatoria

2.
v. tr. - apagar, mojar, lavar
v. intr. - apagar, mojarse, caerse al agua
n. - golpe

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - gå med slagruta

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
1. 用卜杖探寻水源

2. 探寻水源

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
1.
n. - 探尋水源

2.
v. intr. - 用卜杖探尋水源

한국어 (Korean)
1.
v. tr. - 쳐박다
v. intr. - 쳐박히다

2.
v. tr. - (광맥이나 수맥을) 찾다
v. intr. - 점치는 막대기로 수맥을 찾다
n. - 점치는 막대로 수맥을 점치는 것

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 水中に突っ込む, 水をぶっかける, 水に突っ込む

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يبحث عن مياه جوفيه باستخدام عصا الاستنباء ( تهتز عندما تقترب من موقع ماء)‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮חיפש מים או מחצבים בעזרת מקל בצורת Y, טבל, כיבה, התיז, הנמיך (מפרש)‬
n. - ‮חיפוש מים או מחצבים בעזרת מקל בצורת Y‬

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