dent

1
[ dent ]
/ dɛnt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.
a noticeable effect, especially of reduction: to leave a dent in one's savings; a dent in one's pride.

verb (used with object)

to make a dent in or on; indent: The impact dented the car's fender.
to have the effect of reducing or slightly injuring: The caustic remark dented his ego.

verb (used without object)

to show dents; become indented: Tin dents more easily than steel.
to sink in, making a dent: Nails dent into metal.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!
Question 1 of 7
anchorite
a granular metamorphic rock.
a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.
a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for dent

    make a dent, Informal. to cause a person to take heed; make an impression: The doctor told him to stop smoking, but it didn't make a dent.
    make a dent in, to show initial progress; pass an initial stage of (work, thought, solving a problem, etc.): I haven't even made a dent in this pile of work.

Origin of dent

1
1250–1300; Middle English dente, variant of dint

OTHER WORDS FROM dent

un·dent·ed, adjective

Words nearby dent

densimeter, densitometer, density, density current, density function, dent, dent corn, dent-, dent., dental, dental abscess

Definition for dent (2 of 4)

dent2
[ dent ]
/ dɛnt /

noun

a toothlike projection, as a tooth of a gearwheel.
Textiles. the space between two wires through which the warp ends are drawn in the reed of a loom.

Origin of dent

2
1545–55; < Middle French < Latin dent- (stem of dēns) tooth

Definition for dent (3 of 4)

dent.

dental.
dentist.
dentistry.

Definition for dent (4 of 4)

dent-

variant of denti- before a vowel: dentin.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to dent

incision, indentation, nick, impression, sink, cut, cavity, scratch, pit, hollow, crater, score, trough, dimple, dint, notch, dip, furrow, scallop, crenel

Example sentences from the Web for dent

British Dictionary definitions for dent (1 of 3)

dent1
/ (dɛnt) /

noun

a hollow or dip in a surface, as one made by pressure or a blow
an appreciable effect, esp of lesseninga dent in our resources

verb

to impress or be impressed with a dent or dents

Word Origin for dent

C13 (in the sense: a stroke, blow): variant of dint

British Dictionary definitions for dent (2 of 3)

dent2
/ (dɛnt) /

noun

a toothlike protuberance, esp the tooth of a sprocket or gearwheel
textiles the space between two wires in a loom through which a warp thread is drawn

Word Origin for dent

C16: from French: tooth

British Dictionary definitions for dent (3 of 3)

dent.

abbreviation for

dental
dentistry
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

Medical definitions for dent

dent-

pref.

Variant ofdenti-
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with dent

dent

see make a dent in.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.