attenuate

[ verb uh-ten-yoo-eyt; adjective uh-ten-yoo-it, -eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing.

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.

verb (used without object)

, at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing.

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

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

adjective

1. diluted, weakened, slender, or reduced
2. botany tapering gradually to a point

Other Words From

• o·ver·at·ten·u·ate verb (used with object) overattenuated overattenuating
• sub·at·ten·u·ate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attenuate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of attenuate¹

C16: from Latin attenuāre to weaken, from tenuis thin

Example Sentences

RNA vaccines were developed as an alternative to the standard method of vaccination using attenuated or inactivated microorganisms.

From Nautilus

By 1885, Pasteur would take his ideas one step further, injecting slurried concoctions containing attenuated rabies virus into the stomach of a young boy to save the boy’s life, and inventing the first lab-made vaccine.

From Time

Moreover, the chimera was attenuated in mice as compared to the parental mouse-adapted virus, so this would be considered a loss of function.

From MIT Technology Review

The Department of Education did this broad survey on prevention programs attempting to attenuate youth substance and crime and aspects like that.

From Freakonomics

The future role of the national agencies will be attenuated—becoming more akin to an airport rather than to an airline.

From Nautilus

Israeli retaliation of some kind is probably inevitable, but American influence can do much to attenuate the damage it causes.

From The Daily Beast

Her flowing dress of white brocade made no attempt to compress, to sustain or to attenuate.

From Project Gutenberg

But before she could attenuate in any way the crudity of her collapse he gave an impatient jerk which took him to the window.

From Project Gutenberg

The next day he added: "I am still sore vexed about Sherman, but Chenery did his best to attenuate the mischief."

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, I had risen to make this answer, the ill grace of which I strove to attenuate by the courteousness of my attitude.

From Project Gutenberg

Involucre globular; the imbricated scales coriaceous and appressed at base, attenuate to long stiff points with hooked tips.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• vitiate
• weaken