at|ten´|u|a´tion

at|ten´|u|a´tion: at|ten|u|ate «verb. uh TEHN yu ayt; adjective. «uh TEHN yu iht», verb, -at|ed, -at|ing, adjective.

–v.t.

1. to weaken in force, amount, or value; reduce: »The authority of kings has been attenuated in modern times.

2. Bacteriology. to make (microorganisms or viruses) less virulent: »Former vaccines against anthrax, dating back to the time of Pasteur, were made from attenuated, or weakened, spores of the anthrax germs (Science News Letter).

3. to make thin or slender: »He was attenuated by hunger.

4. to make less dense; dilute.

–v.i.

to become thin or slender: »An earthworm's body alternately attenuates and thickens as it crawls.

–adj.

1. slender; thin.

2. thin in consistency.

3. Botany. gradually tapering.

╂[< Latin attenuāre (with English -ate¹) < ad- to + tenuāre make thin < tenuis thin]

–at|ten´|u|a´tion, noun.

–at|ten´u|a´tor, noun.

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po|ten´ti|a´tion — po|ten|ti|ate «puh TEHN shee ayt», transitive verb, at|ed, at|ing. to give power or potency to; make more active; strengthen: »Certain narcotics potentiate the effects of alcohol in the body. SYNONYM(S): increase, intensify. –po|ten´ti|a´tion … Useful english dictionary
in|ten´er|a´tion — in|ten|er|ate «ihn TEHN uh rayt», transitive verb, at|ed, at|ing. to make tender; soften: »Thus she [nature] contrives to intenerate the granite and felspar (Emerson). ╂[< in 2 in + Latin … Useful english dictionary
ex|ten|u|a|tion — «ehk STEHN yu AY shuhn», noun. 1. the act or process of extenuating: »The lawyer pleaded his client s youth in extenuation of the crime. 2. extenuated condition. 3. something that lessens the seriousness of guilt, a fault, or an offense; a… … Useful english dictionary
tion — ab·bre·vi·a·tion; ab·di·ca·tion; ab·duc·tion; ab·er·ra·tion; ab·er·ra·tion·al; ab·jec·tion; ab·junc·tion; ab·ju·ra·tion; ab·lac·ta·tion; ab·la·tion; ab·lu·tion; ab·mi·gra·tion; ab·ne·ga·tion; ab·o·li·tion; ab·o·li·tion·ary; ab·o·li·tion·dom;… … English syllables
ten — af·ten; aglis·ten; an·ten·nal; an·ten·nar·ia; an·ten·na·ri·i·dae; an·ten·na·ry; an·ten·na·ta; an·ten·nate; an·ten·ni·fer; an·ten·ni·form; an·ten·nu·la; an·ten·nu·lar; an·ten·nule; ap·pe·ten·cy; ar·ten·kreis; as·tro·pec·ten; at·ten·si·ty;… … English syllables
ten´der|i|za´tion — ten|der|ize «TEHN duh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to make soft or tender: »to tenderize meat by pounding. –ten´der|i|za´tion, noun … Useful english dictionary
ten|ta|tion — «tehn TAY shuhn», noun. tentative operation … Useful english dictionary
Ten-hut — is a military term that means, Come to attention! It was shortened from a ten hut and came into use because it is easier to say at full shout than attention. This command does not officially exist as a US Military command phrase. Use of A ten hut … Wikipedia
ten|der|ize — «TEHN duh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to make soft or tender: »to tenderize meat by pounding. –ten´der|i|za´tion, noun … Useful english dictionary
at|ten´u|a´tor — at|ten|u|ate «verb. uh TEHN yu ayt; adjective. «uh TEHN yu iht», verb, at|ed, at|ing, adjective. –v.t. 1. to weaken in force, amount, or value; reduce: »The authority of kings has been attenuated in modern times. 2. Bacteriology. to make… … Useful english dictionary

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at|ten´|u|a´tion

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