damp off

English

Verb

damp off (third-person singular simple present damps off, present participle damping off, simple past and past participle damped off)

1. (intransitive) Of plants: to decay and perish through excessive moisture.
   • 1991, Complete Guide to Gardening and Landscaping, page 213:

     Sweet alyssum seedlings are particularly prone to damping off, so do not overmoisten the soil.