Definitions for: Diminish


[v] decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fall to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
[v] lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of; "don't belittle your colleagues"



Webster (1913) Definition: Di*min"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diminished; p. pr.
& vb. n. Diminishing.] [Pref. di- (= L. dis-) + minish: cf.
L. diminuere, F. diminuer, OE. diminuen. See Dis-, and
Minish.]
1. To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in bulk or
amount; to lessen; -- opposed to augment or increase.

Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt.
--Barrow.

2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to
degrade; to abase; to weaken.

This doth nothing diminish their opinion. --Robynson
(More's
Utopia).

I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule
over the nations. --Ezek. xxix.
15.

O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars Hide their
diminished heads. --Milton.

3. (Mus.) To make smaller by a half step; to make (an
interval) less than minor; as, a diminished seventh.

4. To take away; to subtract.

Neither shall ye diminish aught from it. --Deut. iv.
2.

Diminished column, one whose upper diameter is less than
the lower.

Diminished, or Diminishing, scale, a scale of gradation
used in finding the different points for drawing the
spiral curve of the volute. --Gwilt.

Diminishing rule (Arch.), a board cut with a concave edge,
for fixing the entasis and curvature of a shaft.

Diminishing stile (Arch.), a stile which is narrower in one
part than in another, as in many glazed doors.

Syn: To decrease; lessen; abate; reduce; contract; curtail;
impair; degrade. See Decrease.


Di*min"ish, v. i.
To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the
apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.

Synonyms: belittle, decrease, fall, lessen

Antonyms: increase

See Also: abate, boil down, break, change magnitude, concentrate, contract, decline, decoct, decrescendo, de-escalate, deflate, depreciate, devaluate, devalue, die away, drop off, dwindle, dwindle away, dwindle down, ease off, ease up, flag, fly, go down, let up, minify, reduce, shorten, shrink, shrivel, shrivel up, slack, slack off, slacken off, taper, thin out, undervalue, vanish, wane, wither

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