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dilute - 10 dictionary results

di⋅lute

  [di-loot, dahy-; adj. also -dahy-loot] verb, -lut⋅ed, -lut⋅ing, adjective
Use dilute in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by the addition of water or the like.
2. to make fainter, as a color.
3. to reduce the strength, force, or efficiency of by admixture.
–verb (used without object)
4. to become diluted.
–adjective
5. reduced in strength, as a chemical by admixture; weak: a dilute solution.
Origin:
1545–55; < L dīlūtus washed away, dissolved (ptp. of dīluere), equiv. to dī- di- 2 + -lūtus, comb. form of lautus (lav(ere) to wash + -tus ptp. suffix)

Related forms:
di⋅lut⋅er, di⋅lu⋅tor, noun
di⋅lu⋅tive, adjective

Synonyms:
3. weaken, temper, mitigate, diminish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dilute
di·lute   (dī-lōōt', dĭ-)   
tr.v.   di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing, di·lutes
  1. To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water.
  2. To lessen the force, strength, purity, or brilliance of, especially by admixture.
  3. To decrease the value of (shares of stock) by increasing the total number of shares.
adj.  Weakened; diluted.

[Latin dīluere, dīlūt- : dī-, dis-, apart, away; see dis- + -luere, to wash (from lavere; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots).]
di·lut'er, di·lut'or n., di·lu'tive adj.
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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Dilute

Di*lute"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diluting.] [L. dilutus, p. p. of diluere to wash away, dilute; di- = dis- + luere, equiv. to lavare to wash, lave. See Lave, and cf. Deluge.]

1. To make thinner or more liquid by admixture with something; to thin and dissolve by mixing.

Mix their watery store. With the chyle's current, and dilute it more. --Blackmore.

2. To diminish the strength, flavor, color, etc., of, by mixing; to reduce, especially by the addition of water; to temper; to attenuate; to weaken.

Lest these colors should be diluted and weakened by the mixture of any adventitious light. --Sir I. Newton.

Dilute

Di*lute"\, v. i. To become attenuated, thin, or weak; as, it dilutes easily.

Dilute

Di*lute"\, a. [L. dilutus, p. p.] Diluted; thin; weak.

A dilute and waterish exposition. --Hopkins.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : dilute
Spanish: diluir,
German: verdünnen,
Japanese: 薄める
More Translations »

dilute 
c.1555, from L. dilutus, pp. of diluere "dissolve, wash away, dilute," from dis- "apart" + -luere, comb. form of lavere "to wash" (see lave).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: di·lute
Pronunciation: dI-'lüt, d&-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: di·lut·ed; di·lut·ing
: to cause dilution of
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: 1di·lute
Pronunciation: dI-'lüt, d&-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: di·lut·ed;di·lut·ing
: to make thinner or more liquid by admixture —di·lut·er also di·lu·tor /-&r/ noun

Main Entry: 2dilute
Function: adjective
: of relatively low strength or concentration dilute solution>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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dilute di·lute (dī-l&oomacr;t', dĭ-)
v. di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing, di·lutes
To reduce a solution or mixture in concentration, quality, strength, or purity, as by adding water. adj.
Thinned or weakened by diluting.

di·lu'tive adj.

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