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

attenuate Related Forms

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

Preposition: by

particle: Thus the light of particles lying behind other particles will be attenuated by the particles in front.

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