Attenuate Definition

ə-tĕnyo͝o-āt
attenuated, attenuates, attenuating
verb
attenuated, attenuates
To make slender, fine, or small.
The drought attenuated the river to a narrow channel.
American Heritage
To make slender or thin.
Webster's New World
To become thin, weak, etc.
Webster's New World
To dilute or rarefy.
Webster's New World
To lessen in severity, value, amount, intensity, etc.; weaken.
Webster's New World
adjective
Attenuated.
Webster's New World
Tapering gradually to a point, as the base of a leaf.
Webster's New World
Reduced or weakened, as in strength, value, or virulence.
American Heritage Medicine
Gradually tapering to a slender point.
American Heritage Medicine

(botany, of leaves) Gradually tapering into a petiole-like extension toward the base.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Origin of Attenuate

  • Latin attenuāre attenuāt- ad- ad- tenuāre to make thin (from tenuis thin ten- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin attenuāre, from attenuāt-, at- = ad-, ad- (“to”) + tenuāre (“to make thin”), tenuis (“thin”).

    From Wiktionary

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