attenuate

[ verb uh-ten-yoo-eyt; adjective uh-ten-yoo-it, -eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing.

1. to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value:

   to attenuate desire.

2. to make thin; make slender or fine.
3. Bacteriology, Immunology. to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium.
4. Electronics. to decrease the amplitude of (an electronic signal):

   A splitter will attenuate your output.

verb (used without object)

, at·ten·u·at·ed, at·ten·u·at·ing.

1. to become thin, fine, or weak; lessen:

   Over the years, my anger at my family attenuated and I was able to acknowledge the strengths they had given me.

adjective

1. weakened; diminishing.
2. Botany. tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.

attenuate

verb

1. to weaken or become weak; reduce in size, strength, density, or value
2. to make or become thin or fine; extend
3. tr to make (a pathogenic bacterium, virus, etc) less virulent, as by culture in special media or exposure to heat

adjective

1. diluted, weakened, slender, or reduced
2. botany tapering gradually to a point

Other Words From

• o·ver·at·ten·u·ate verb (used with object) overattenuated overattenuating
• sub·at·ten·u·ate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attenuate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin attenuātus (past participle of attenuāre “to make thin, reduce”); at-, tenuis, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of attenuate¹

C16: from Latin attenuāre to weaken, from tenuis thin

Example Sentences

Over a professional career attenuated by injuries, he earned a Most Valuable Player Award and championship titles with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics.

From New York Times

"Seismic waves attenuate rapidly for distances away from the source, and therefore have limited resolution when they reach the depths of interest."

From Science Daily

The anti-abortion movement’s victory was really attenuated by this ballot measure, and they are now gearing up for a tough campaign.

From New York Times

"Sound attenuates with distance, so at one metre away, the amplitude is around 108 decibels."

From BBC

Ms. Freund, who wrote a recent paper on the subject, said the two countries’ trade relationship was “definitely being attenuated, but not as much as the official statistics suggest.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• vitiate
• weaken