attenuate

Attenuate is defined as to reduce the strength of an electrical signal.

(verb)

To lower the amplitude of an electrical signal is an example of attenuate.

The definition of attenuate is to weaken or reduce.

(verb)

An example of attenuate is to destroy many members of an opposing force.

See attenuate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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

Origin: < L attenuatus, pp. of attenuare, to make thin < ad- to + tenuare < tenuis, thin

intransitive verb

to become thin, weak, etc.

adjective

Related Forms:

See attenuate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing, at·ten·u·ates

verb, transitive

To make slender, fine, or small: The drought attenuated the river to a narrow channel.
To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken: Medicine attenuated the fever's effect.
To lessen the density of; rarefy.
Biology To make (bacteria or viruses) less virulent.
Electronics To reduce (the amplitude of an electrical signal) with little or no distortion.

verb, intransitive

To become thin, weak, or fine.

adjective (-yo͞o-ĭt)