dim.

¹

abbreviation for

1. (in prescriptions) one-half.

dim.

²

abbreviation for

1. dimension.
2. diminish.
3. diminuendo.
4. diminutive.

dim

³

[ dim ]

adjective

, dim·mer, dim·mest.

1. not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light:

   a dim room; a dim flashlight.

2. not seen clearly or in detail; indistinct:

   a dim object in the distance.

3. not clear to the mind; vague:

   a dim idea.

   Synonyms: unclear, hazy, fuzzy, indistinct, indefinite, faint

4. not brilliant; dull in luster:

   a dim color.

5. not clear or distinct to the senses; faint:

   a dim sound.

6. not seeing clearly:

   eyes dim with tears.

7. tending to be unfavorable; not likely to happen, succeed, be favorable, etc.:

   a dim chance of winning.

8. not understanding clearly.
9. rather stupid; dim-witted.

verb (used with object)

, dimmed, dim·ming.

1. to make dim or dimmer.

   Synonyms: cloud, darken

2. to switch (the headlights of a vehicle) from the high to the low beam.

verb (used without object)

, dimmed, dim·ming.

1. to become or grow dim or dimmer.

   Synonyms: fade, dull

verb phrase

1. (in wartime) to reduce the night illumination of (a city, ship, etc.) to make it less visible from the air or sea, as a protection from enemy aircraft or ships.

dim

/ dɪm /

adjective

1. badly illuminated

   a dim room

2. not clearly seen; indistinct; faint

   a dim shape

3. having weak or indistinct vision

   eyes dim with tears

4. lacking in understanding; mentally dull
5. not clear in the mind; obscure

   a dim memory

6. lacking in brilliance, brightness, or lustre

   a dim colour

7. tending to be unfavourable; gloomy or disapproving (esp in the phrase take a dim view )

verb

1. to become or cause to become dim
2. tr to cause to seem less bright, as by comparison
3. tr to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)dip

Derived Forms

• ˈdimness, noun
• ˈdimly, adverb

Other Words From

• dimly adverb
• dimma·ble adjective
• dimness noun
• un·dim adjective
• un·dimly adverb
• un·dimmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dim.¹

From the Latin word dīmidius

Origin of dim.²

before 1000; Middle English, Old English dim ( me ), cognate with Old Frisian dim, Old Norse dimmr

Word History and Origins

Origin of dim.¹

Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a dim view of, to regard with disapproval, skepticism, or dismay:

   Her mother takes a dim view of her choice of friends.

More idioms and phrases containing dim.

see take a dim view .

Synonym Study

See dark.

Example Sentences

When the light conditions were changed to dim red light, within half an hour the chloroplast had returned to its original size and shape.

From Science Daily

"In geometrical optics, shadows cast by obstacles would extend indefinitely -- if you're in the shadow, there's no light; outside of it, you see light. But wave optics introduces a different behavior -- waves bend around obstacles and interfere with each other, creating a sequence of bright and dim fringes due to constructive and destructive interference."

From Science Daily

He said any leadership election would be in the "dim and distant future".

From BBC

The questions asked about Trump’s character - including accusations of sexual misconduct, and his alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels and associated hush-money trial - don't dim Mr Graham’s view.

From BBC

Regardless of Boulos’ mandate, the prospects of a peace seem dim, at least so far.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blur
• cloud
• dull
• eclipse
• fade
• tarnish