attenuator

Variant of attenuate

attenuate definition

at·tenu·ate (ə ten′yo̵̅o̅ āt′; for adj., -it, -āt′)

transitive verb attenuated -·at′ed, attenuating -·at′·ing

  1. to make slender or thin
  2. to dilute or rarefy
  3. to lessen in severity, value, amount, intensity, etc.; weaken
  4. Electronics to reduce the amplitude or strength of (an electrical signal)
  5. 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

  1. attenuated
  2. Bot. tapering gradually to a point, as the base of a leaf

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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