Vibration Damping
Vibration Damping is when a material soaks up shaking so it fades away faster.
Think of it this way
Drop a marble into a bowl of honey. The marble bounces far less than it would in water. The thick honey grabs the marble's motion and turns it into slow heat. That is damping — the honey soaks up the shaking so it dies out fast.
Explaining vibration damping by grade level
When the ground shakes, buildings move. Wood bends a tiny bit and soaks up the shaking. This makes the shaking stop faster. That is why some homes use wood.