dwarf
a person of abnormally small physical stature resulting from a medical or genetic condition, especially a person with achondroplasia or some other disease that produces disproportion or deformation of features and limbs.
an animal or plant much smaller than the average of its kind or species.
(in folklore) a being in the form of a small, often misshapen man, usually having magic powers.
Astronomy. dwarf star.
of unusually small stature or size; diminutive.
to cause to appear or seem small in size, extent, character, etc., as by being much larger or better: He dwarfed all his rivals in athletic ability.
to make dwarf or dwarfish; prevent the due development of.
to become stunted or smaller.
Origin of dwarf
1usage note For dwarf
Other words for dwarf
Opposites for dwarf
Other words from dwarf
- dwarf·like, adjective
- dwarf·ness, noun
- un·dwarfed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dwarf in a sentence
You almost wish Tolkien had stopped with six dwarves [laughs].
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth | Alex Suskind | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTStill, we had the 13 dwarves to deal with, but at least in this movie we get to knock a couple off, which is a relief.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth | Alex Suskind | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“The police were forced into arresting thousands of dwarves,” Flood said.
Why the Left Protests Better: A History of ‘Disobedient Objects’ | Nico Hines | July 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe parades around with a monkey, tosses dwarves around his office, and, in the .
Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Dancing & More Baller .GIFs | Kevin Fallon | June 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhile the camera pans towards him in the hallway, along the wall is an image of Dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
'The Shining': The Craziest Theories Behind the Film | Jean Trinh | March 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Saxons, in their wild forests, believed in tiny dwarves or demons called Duergar.
Brownies and Bogles | Louise Imogen GuineyVery much the same thing befell some German house-dwarves, who used to help a poor smith, and make his kettles and pans for him.
Brownies and Bogles | Louise Imogen GuineyAnd the dwarves, and fays, and fairies all alike have gone away.
Dwarves and mine-men went about, unfailingly, with a purseful of gold.
Brownies and Bogles | Louise Imogen GuineyThe Black Elves will serve as our general name for dwarves and mine-fairies.
Brownies and Bogles | Louise Imogen Guiney
British Dictionary definitions for dwarf
/ (dwɔːf) /
an abnormally undersized person, esp one with a large head and short arms and legs: Compare midget
an animal or plant much below the average height for the species
(as modifier): a dwarf tree
(in folklore) a small ugly manlike creature, often possessing magical powers
astronomy short for dwarf star
to become or cause to become comparatively small in size, importance, etc
(tr) to stunt the growth of
Origin of dwarf
1Derived forms of dwarf
- dwarfish, adjective
- dwarfishly, adverb
- dwarfishness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for dwarf
[ dwôrf ]
An abnormally small person, often having limbs and features atypically proportioned or formed.
An atypically small animal or plant.
A dwarf star or dwarf galaxy.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse