First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1attenuate
adjective at·ten·u·ate \ə-ˈten-yə-wət, -yü-ət\
Definition of ATTENUATE
1
: reduced especially in thickness, density, or force
2
: tapering gradually usually to a long slender point <attenuate leaves>
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Origin of ATTENUATE
Middle English attenuat, from Latin attenuatus, past participle of attenuare to make thin, from ad- + tenuis thin — more at thin
2attenuate
verb at·ten·u·ate \ə-ˈten-yə-ˌwāt, -yü-ˌāt\
: to make (something) weaker or less in amount, effect, or force
at·ten·u·at·edat·ten·u·at·ing
Full Definition of ATTENUATE
transitive verb
1
: to make thin or slender
2
: to make thin in consistency : rarefy
3
: to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of : weaken
4
: to reduce the severity, virulence, or vitality of <an attenuated virus>
intransitive verb
: to become thin, fine, or less
— at·ten·u·a·tion \-ˌten-yə-ˈwā-shən, -yü-ˈā-\ noun
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First Known Use of ATTENUATE
1530
Related to ATTENUATE
Rhymes with ATTENUATE
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Medical Dictionary
attenuate
transitive verb at·ten·u·ate \ə-ˈten-yə-ˌwāt\
at·ten·u·at·edat·ten·u·at·ing
Medical Definition of ATTENUATE
: to reduce the severity of (a disease) or virulence or vitality of (a pathogenic agent) <a procedure to attenuate severe diabetes> <attenuated bacilli>
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