attenuate
to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.
to make thin; make slender or fine.
Bacteriology, Immunology. to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium.
Electronics. to decrease the amplitude of (an electronic signal): A splitter will attenuate your output.
to become thin, fine, or weak; lessen: Over the years, my anger at my family attenuated and I was able to acknowledge the strengths they had given me.
weakened; diminishing.
Botany. tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.
Origin of attenuate
1Other words from attenuate
- o·ver·at·ten·u·ate, verb (used with object), o·ver·at·ten·u·at·ed, o·ver·at·ten·u·at·ing.
- sub·at·ten·u·ate, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use attenuate in a sentence
But in that hour which seemed pure essence, with no attenuating sound or touch, he kept on up the hill toward Jenny's house.
Christmas | Zona GaleThe spell that for a moment her beauty had cast over him when first she had appeared had been attenuating.
The Trampling of the Lilies | Rafael SabatiniThe idea of attenuating the virus used for inoculation, and of making the effects minimal, was not his.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2) | Charles CreightonThe movement towards attenuating the virus used for inoculation was general in Europe.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2) | Charles CreightonAnother process for attenuating the atmosphere over the surface of fluids during evaporation is by the action of an air-pump.
British Dictionary definitions for attenuate
to weaken or become weak; reduce in size, strength, density, or value
to make or become thin or fine; extend
(tr) to make (a pathogenic bacterium, virus, etc) less virulent, as by culture in special media or exposure to heat
diluted, weakened, slender, or reduced
botany tapering gradually to a point
Origin of attenuate
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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