attenuate
attenuate
Definition
at·tenu·ate (ə ten′yo̵̅o̅ āt′; for adj., -it, -āt′)
transitive verb -·at′ed, -·at′·ing
- to make slender or thin
- to dilute or rarefy
- to lessen in severity, value, amount, intensity, etc.; weaken
- Electronics to reduce the amplitude or strength of (an electrical signal)
- Microbiol. to reduce the virulence of (a bacterium or virus) usually to make a vaccine
Etymology: < L attenuatus, pp. of attenuare, to make thin < ad- to + tenuare < tenuis, thin
intransitive verb
to become thin, weak, etc.
adjective
- attenuated
- Bot. tapering gradually to a point, as the base of a leaf
at·ten′ua′·tion noun
at·ten′ua′·tor noun
attenuate
Usage Examples
Object
- frequency: Low Pass Filter This lets through the lower frequencies and attenuates the higher frequencies.
- signal: I would have thought the on board band filter would attenuate spurious signals.
- noise: Such a system is required to attenuate the noise in a jet aircraft, for example.
- response: To prevent transplant rejection, the recipient is given immunosuppressant drugs to attenuate the immune response.
- sound: Conversely, turning this control left from the center position, you will attenuate the sound.
- effect: The intrahousehold empowerment of mothers should, therefore, attenuate the effects of a lack of concern on the part of their partners.
Subject
- particle: Thus the light of particles lying behind other particles will be attenuated by the particles in front.
Modifies a noun
- sound: Designed to damp vibration and attenuate airborne sound and impact noise passing through floors.
Modifying Another Word
- significantly: Supplementation was found to significantly attenuate the O 3 -induced decrements in lung function in both studies.
- highly: Seismic energy seemed to be highly attenuated by basalt.
- also: It is also attenuated by dust, smoke, cloud or any medium which obscures radiation at that wavelength.
- not: Especially particles near the viewer do not attenuate the light coming from particles far away from the viewer.
- so: Yet he used instruments of an Englishness so attenuated that, like a strain of vaccine, they would not damage a Scottish host.
- rapidly: The tone quality generally varies as well in that high frequencies are attenuated more rapidly than the lower ones.
Present participle complement
- flood: Development of the site will need to be subject to provision of appropriate measures to attenuate flooding to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority.
Preposition: in
- way: State control appears in this instance to be attenuated in several ways.
Preposition: by
- particle: Thus the light of particles lying behind other particles will be attenuated by the particles in front.
Browse dictionary entries near attenuate
- attentive
- attention span
- attention
- attentat
- attendee
- attendant access
- attendant
- attendance officer
- attendance
- attend
