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

• diˈluter, noun
• ˌdiluˈtee, 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

Specifically, the commentary discusses the theory of variolation, an pre-vaccine form of inoculation that uses a dilute form of the smallpox virus to give people a mild infection that would lead to lifelong immunity to the virus.

From Popular-Science

Tesla also announced it had sold $5 billion of new shares, diluting the value of stock held by existing investors.

From Fortune

Unfortunately, Lo says, in many schools, these systems don’t mix the air well enough to dilute any virus.

From Science News For Students

Mixing dilutes the indoor air, spreading out any virus it may hold.

From Science News For Students

Tesla shares are now officially in correction territory, in a week that saw the electric-vehicle maker announce a share sale that could dilute its value and a top holder cut its stake nearly in half.

From Fortune

You would have to be drinking LITERS of water to dilute your stomach acid in any meaningful way.

From The Daily Beast

The other obvious way to help your body deal with excessive toxins from that large meal is to dilute the toxins by drinking more.

From The Daily Beast

To dilute the bitterness, the less-than-brave steep them in green tea.

From The Daily Beast

The minute you undermine the insurance, or dilute it, a bank run might ensue.

From The Daily Beast

I also refuse to dilute the power of the accusation through inaccurate overuse.

From The Daily Beast

The metal is then removed, and washed successively with very dilute sodium hydroxid solution, alcohol, and ether.

From Project Gutenberg

The remainder of the residue may be dissolved in a little dilute sulphuric acid.

From Project Gutenberg

It dissolves in dilute potash, and on the addition of acetic acid is deposited in a pure state.

From Project Gutenberg

The ether solution was washed with water and dilute sodium carbonate solution, and the ether was evaporated.

From Project Gutenberg

When the small residue was completely dry, it was a yellow solid soluble in dilute alcohol and acid to litmus.

From Project Gutenberg