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
Words Nearby attenuate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use attenuate in a sentence
RNA vaccines were developed as an alternative to the standard method of vaccination using attenuated or inactivated microorganisms.
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.
As U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Top the Civil War’s Toll, We're Repeating Disease History | Rachel Lance | August 14, 2021 | TimeMoreover, the chimera was attenuated in mice as compared to the parental mouse-adapted virus, so this would be considered a loss of function.
“We never created a supervirus.” Ralph Baric explains gain-of-function research. | Rowan Jacobsen | July 26, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewThe Department of Education did this broad survey on prevention programs attempting to attenuate youth substance and crime and aspects like that.
Policymaking Is Not a Science (Yet) (Ep. 405 Rebroadcast) | Stephen J. Dubner | March 25, 2021 | FreakonomicsThe future role of the national agencies will be attenuated—becoming more akin to an airport rather than to an airline.
If Aliens Exist, Here’s How We’ll Find Them - Issue 97: Wonder | Martin Rees & Mario Livio | February 24, 2021 | Nautilus
Israeli retaliation of some kind is probably inevitable, but American influence can do much to attenuate the damage it causes.
Her flowing dress of white brocade made no attempt to compress, to sustain or to attenuate.
Tante | Anne Douglas SedgwickBut before she could attenuate in any way the crudity of her collapse he gave an impatient jerk which took him to the window.
What Maisie Knew | Henry JamesThe next day he added: "I am still sore vexed about Sherman, but Chenery did his best to attenuate the mischief."
Great Britain and the American Civil War | Ephraim Douglass AdamsNevertheless, I had risen to make this answer, the ill grace of which I strove to attenuate by the courteousness of my attitude.
Led Astray and The Sphinx | Octave FeuilletInvolucre globular; the imbricated scales coriaceous and appressed at base, attenuate to long stiff points with hooked tips.
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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