dilute

American  

[dih-loot, dahy-, dahy-loot] / dɪˈlut, daɪ-, ˈdaɪ lut /

verb (used with object)

diluted, diluting

1. to make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by the addition of water or the like.

2. to make fainter, as a color.

3. to reduce the strength, force, or efficiency of by admixture.

   Synonyms:

   diminish, mitigate, temper, weaken

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verb (used without object)

diluted, diluting

1. to become diluted.

adjective

1. reduced in strength, as a chemical by admixture; weak.

   a dilute solution.

dilute British  

/ daɪˈluːt /

verb

1. to make or become less concentrated, esp by adding water or a thinner

2. to make or become weaker in force, effect, etc

   he diluted his story

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adjective

1. chem

   1. (of a solution, suspension, mixture, etc) having a low concentration or a concentration that has been reduced by admixture

   2. (of a substance) present in solution, esp a weak solution in water

      dilute acetic acid

Other Word Forms

• antidilutive adjective
• dilutee noun
• diluter noun
• dilutive adjective
• dilutor noun
• overdilute verb
• undilute adjective
• undiluted adjective
• undiluting adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilute

1545–55; < Latin dīlūtus washed away, dissolved (past participle of dīluere ), equivalent to dī- di- ² + -lūtus, combining form of lautus ( lav ( ere ) to wash + -tus past participle suffix)

Example Sentences

This is because the company’s average diluted share count for the fourth quarter, used to calculate earnings per share, was down 1% from a year earlier.

From MarketWatch

She also asked where justice was when responsibility had been left "blurred, silent and diluted".

From BBC

This diluted version of Hemingway has inevitably degraded the reputation of the original.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company had 269.4 million outstanding diluted shares at the end of the recent quarter, down from 280.1 million a year ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

It can include diluting or substituting ingredients, altering documents, or going through unapproved processes.

From BBC

Related Words

• adulterate
• alter
• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• mitigate
• modify
• reduce
• temper
• water down