attenuate

American  

[uh-ten-yoo-eyt, uh-ten-yoo-it, -eyt] / əˈtɛn yuˌeɪt, əˈtɛn yu ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

attenuated, attenuating

1. to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value.

   to attenuate desire.

2. to make thin; make slender or fine.

3. Bacteriology, Immunology. to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium.

4. Electronics. to decrease the amplitude of (an electronic signal).

   A splitter will attenuate your output.

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verb (used without object)

attenuated, attenuating

1. 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.

adjective

1. weakened; diminishing.

2. Botany. tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.

attenuate British  

verb

1. to weaken or become weak; reduce in size, strength, density, or value

2. to make or become thin or fine; extend

3. (tr) to make (a pathogenic bacterium, virus, etc) less virulent, as by culture in special media or exposure to heat

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adjective

1. diluted, weakened, slender, or reduced

2. botany tapering gradually to a point

Other Word Forms

• overattenuate verb (used with object)
• subattenuate adjective

Etymology

Origin of attenuate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin attenuātus (past participle of attenuāre “to make thin, reduce”); at-, tenuis, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

And then Michael is such a craftsman that every part of everything is studied and controlled and carefully attenuated.

From Los Angeles Times

The measles virus is attenuated in the MMR vaccine, meaning that it has been altered to produce the appropriate immune response without triggering the disease itself.

From Los Angeles Times

He recognized that if the United States were to have any meaningful relationship with Latin America, we needed to attenuate our colonialism, so he pushed through the ratification of the Panama Canal treaties.

From Los Angeles Times

Over a professional career attenuated by injuries, he earned a Most Valuable Player Award and championship titles with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics.

From New York Times

"Seismic waves attenuate rapidly for distances away from the source, and therefore have limited resolution when they reach the depths of interest."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• vitiate
• weaken