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attenuate

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Attenuates
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at⋅ten⋅u⋅ate

  [v. uh-ten-yoo-eyt; adj. uh-ten-yoo-it, -eyt] verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing, adjective
Use attenuate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
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).
–verb (used without object)
5. to become thin or fine; lessen.
–adjective
6. weakened; diminishing.
7. Botany. tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.
Origin:
1520–30; < L attenuātus (ptp. of attenuāre to thin, reduce). See at-, tenuis, -ate 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Attenuates
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www.RightHealth.com/Radiology
at·ten·u·ate   (ə-těn'yōō-āt')   
v.   at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing, at·ten·u·ates

v.   tr.

  1. To make slender, fine, or small: The drought attenuated the river to a narrow channel.

  2. To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken: Medicine attenuated the fever's effect.

  3. To lessen the density of; rarefy.

  4. Biology To make (bacteria or viruses) less virulent.

  5. Electronics To reduce (the amplitude of an electrical signal) with little or no distortion.

v.   intr.
To become thin, weak, or fine.
adj.   (-yōō-ĭt)

  1. Reduced or weakened, as in strength, value, or virulence.

  2. Botany Gradually tapering to a slender point.


[Latin attenuāre, attenuāt- : ad-, ad- + tenuāre, to make thin (from tenuis, thin; see ten- in Indo-European roots).]
at·ten'u·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

attenuate  (v.)
1530, from L. attenuatus, pp. of attenuare "to make thin," from ad- "to" + tenuare "make thin," from tenuis "thin" (see tenet).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: at·ten·u·ate
Pronunciation: &-'ten-y&-"wAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed;-at·ing
: to reduce the severity of (a disease) or virulence or vitality of (a pathogenic agent) attenuate severe diabetes> <attenuatedbacilli>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

attenuate at·ten·u·ate (ə-těn'y&oomacr;-āt')
v. at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing, at·ten·u·ates

  1. To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken; diminish.

  2. To make bacteria or viruses less virulent.

adj.
Reduced or weakened, as in strength, value, or virulence.

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