dwarf

[ dwawrf ]

/ dwɔrf /

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See synonyms for: dwarf / dwarfed on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural dwarves [dwawrvz], /dwɔrvz/, dwarfs.

a person of abnormally small stature owing to a pathological condition, especially one suffering from cretinism or some other disease that produces disproportion or deformation of features and limbs.

an animal or plant much smaller than the average of its kind or species.

(in folklore) a being in the form of a small, often misshapen and ugly, man, usually having magic powers.

Astronomy. dwarf star.

adjective

of unusually small stature or size; diminutive.

verb (used with object)

to cause to appear or seem small in size, extent, character, etc., as by being much larger or better: He dwarfed all his rivals in athletic ability.

to make dwarf or dwarfish; prevent the due development of.

verb (used without object)

to become stunted or smaller.

SYNONYMS FOR dwarf

2 runt, miniature.

See synonyms for dwarf on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR dwarf

1, 5 giant.

See antonyms for dwarf on Thesaurus.com

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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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Origin of dwarf

First recorded before 900; Middle English dwerf, Old English dweorh; replacing Middle English dwerg, Old English dweorg; cognate with Old High German twerg, Old Norse dvergr

synonym study for dwarf

1. Dwarf, midget, pygmy are terms for a very small person. A dwarf is someone checked in growth or stunted, or in some way not normally formed. A midget (not in technical use) is someone perfect in form and normal in function, but diminutive. A Pygmy is properly a member of one of certain small-sized peoples of Africa and Asia, but the word is often used imprecisely to mean dwarf or midget. Dwarf is a term often used to describe very small plants. Pygmy is used to describe very small animals.

OTHER WORDS FROM dwarf

dwarflike, adjectivedwarfness, nounun·dwarfed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for dwarf

Red dwarfs are very active stars, crackling with activity and hurling blistering pulses of energy into space.
Violent space weather could limit life on nearby exoplanets|Paola Rosa-Aquino|December 11, 2020|Popular Science
Its case numbers were dwarfing those in every other state including New South Wales, home to the country’s other great metropolis, Sydney.
How Melbourne eradicated Covid-19|Dylan Scott|December 4, 2020|Vox
It’s a window into how much the virus itself, and the financial hardships it’s created, will likely dwarf other issues.
Sacramento Report: Shutdowns Loom as the Legislature Returns|Sara Libby|December 4, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The value of that would dwarf any gains that any of us could ever hope to see from the stock market.
The stock market is soaring to new heights. But most Americans aren’t along for the ride.|Allan Sloan|December 4, 2020|Washington Post

Still, astronomers can see brown dwarfs because the youngest ones do emit light.
Explainer: Stars and their families|Ken Croswell|August 18, 2020|Science News For Students
Tallness, being an impulse toward extension, can never be Dwarfness, which is an impulse toward contraction.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy
Dwarfness (or lesser stature) and Whiteness (or lesser colour) are Recessive, and are obviously Female traits.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy
If we are to get the effect of dwarfness, we must be sure that the stock is itself really dwarf.
The Apple-Tree|L. H. Bailey
There are plants that are dwarf and can transmit only Dwarfness to offspring.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy
Dwarfness and Weakness are indirect and negative factors therein.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy

British Dictionary definitions for dwarf

dwarf

/ (dwɔːf) /

noun plural dwarfs or dwarves (dwɔːvz)

an abnormally undersized person, esp one with a large head and short arms and legsCompare midget

an animal or plant much below the average height for the species
(as modifier)a dwarf tree

(in folklore) a small ugly manlike creature, often possessing magical powers

astronomy short for dwarf star

verb

to become or cause to become comparatively small in size, importance, etc

(tr) to stunt the growth of

Derived forms of dwarf

dwarfish, adjectivedwarfishly, adverbdwarfishness, noun

Word Origin for dwarf

Old English dweorg; related to Old Norse dvergr, Old High German twerc

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 dwarf

dwarf

[ dwôrf ]

n. pl. dwarfs

An abnormally small person, often having limbs and features not properly proportioned or formed.

Scientific definitions for dwarf

dwarf

[ dwôrf ]

An abnormally small person, often having limbs and features atypically proportioned or formed.

An atypically small animal or plant.

A dwarf star or dwarf galaxy.

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