attenuate: Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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Word of the Day for Monday, June 27, 2011 attenuate \uh-TEN-yoo-eyt\, verb: 1. To weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value 2. To make thin; make slender or fine. 3. In medicine, to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium. 4. In electronics, to decrease the amplitude of an electronic signal. With no reactor coolant to absorb the heat of the uranium rods, the nuclear reaction actually stopped - there was no water to attenuate the neutron flux. -- Tom Clancy, The Hunt for Red October But before she could attenuate in any way the crudity of her collapse he gave an impatient jerk which took him to the window. -- Henry James, What Maise Knew Attenuate is based on the Latin attenuāre, "to thin, reduce." Read the full entry | See synonyms | Comment on today's word | Suggest tomorrow's word Yesterday's word | Previous words | Help
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