English Explanatory Dictionary

attenuation

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A gradual diminishing of strength.
  2. A reduction in the level of some property with distance, especially the amplitude of a wave or the strength of a signal.
  3. A weakening in the virulence of a pathogen or other microorganism.
  4. The tapering of a leaf etc to a fine point.
  5. A fabrication process in which a material is stretched out into a thin shape.
  6. The reduction of the active principles of medicines to minute doses.
  7. The proportion of sugar that is converted to ethanol by a yeast.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-attenuation.wav

Word forms

attenuation attenuations

Etymology

From Middle English attenuacioun, a borrowing from Latin attenuātiō (“a diminishing”). Equivalent to attenuate + -ion.

Related words

attenuate tenuous thin

Derived words

deattenuation diattenuation disattenuation hyperattenuation hypoattenuation isoattenuation neuroattenuation nonattenuation space attenuation underattenuation vasoattenuation
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