dilute

[ dih-loot, dahy-; adjective dahy-loot ]

verb (used with object)

, di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing.

1. to make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by the addition of water or the like.
2. to make fainter, as a color.
3. to reduce the strength, force, or efficiency of by admixture.

   Synonyms: diminish, mitigate, temper, weaken

verb (used without object)

, di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing.

1. to become diluted.

adjective

1. reduced in strength, as a chemical by admixture; weak:

   a dilute solution.

dilute

/ daɪˈluːt /

verb

1. to make or become less concentrated, esp by adding water or a thinner
2. to make or become weaker in force, effect, etc

   he diluted his story

adjective

1. chem
   1. (of a solution, suspension, mixture, etc) having a low concentration or a concentration that has been reduced by admixture
   2. (of a substance) present in solution, esp a weak solution in water

      dilute acetic acid

Derived Forms

• ˌdiluˈtee, noun
• diˈluter, noun

Other Words From

• di·luter di·lutor noun
• di·lutive adjective
• anti·di·lutive adjective
• over·di·lute verb overdiluted overdiluting
• undi·lute adjective
• undi·luted adjective
• undi·luting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilute¹

1545–55; < Latin dīlūtus washed away, dissolved (past participle of dīluere ), equivalent to dī- di- ² + -lūtus, combining form of lautus ( lav ( ere ) to wash + -tus past participle suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilute¹

C16: from Latin dīluere, from dis- apart + -luere, from lavāre to wash

Example Sentences

Meet Zia, my dilute calico who enjoys chasing droplets of water in the tub and lying flat on her back, like a fluffy rug in a log cabin.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, her campaign said the audio leak scandal showed that De León was “conspiring to gerrymander districts to dilute Black voting power.”

From Los Angeles Times

We only use high-quality soybeans and do not dilute them as much, which results in a premium Tamari that is superior to typical soy sauce.

From Salon

There have already been concerns that the size of the 16 new constituencies will dilute our sense of "belonging" and that six MSs per constituency might dilute our personal connection with our politicians.

From BBC

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, the lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London explained the strategies which the EA could use to dilute or remove the toxic substance from the water.

From BBC