Diminution definition

dĭmə-no͝oshən, -nyo͝o-
A diminishing or being diminished; lessening; decrease.
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The definition of a diminution is a reduction in size or a reduction in the importance of someone or something.

When you are demoted from President of the company to assistant manager, this is an example of a diminution.

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(music) Statement of a theme in notes of lesser duration, usually one-half, of the original.
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The act or process of diminishing; a lessening or reduction.
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The resulting reduction; decrease.
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(music) Variation of a theme by shortening, usually halving, the time value of the notes.
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The new emission standards have produced a measurable diminution in air pollution.

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(music) The shortening of the notes of a melody or theme.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
diminution
Plural:
diminutions

Origin of diminution

  • Middle English diminucioun from Old French diminution from Latin dīminūtiō dīminūtiōn- from dīminūtus past participle of dīminuere diminish

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

  • From Anglo-Norman diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin diminutio

    From Wiktionary

Diminution Sentence Examples

  • The diminution was due to a smaller exportation of raw silk and oil.

  • In 1896 the grain area was 380,000 acres, a slight diminution having taken place since 1882.

  • The Belgian state telegraphs were started in 1850 and were at first very profitable, but for the years 1866-9 they yielded an average profit of only 2.8 per cent., and subsequently failed to earn operating expenses, the reasons for the steady decline of the profits being the opening of relatively unprofitable lines and offices, increases in wages, and a diminution in growth of the foreign and transit messages which had constituted the most profitable part of the whole business.

  • Gockel found a diminution of ionization with rise of relative humidity.

  • A diminution in the number of positive ions would thus naturally be accompanied by a rise in potential gradient.

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Words near diminution in the Dictionary