English Explanatory Dictionary

minimize

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To make (something) smaller or as small as possible; shrink; reduce.
  2. To relegate or assign (something) to a less insignificant status; diminish.
  3. To remove (a window) from the main display area, collapsing it to an icon or caption.
  4. To treat (someone) in a slighting manner.
  5. To treat as trivial or insignificant; to trivialize.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɪn.ɪ.maɪz/ /ˈmɪn.ɪˌmaɪz/ /ˈmɪn.əˌmaɪz/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-minimize.wav /ˈmɪn.ɪˌmɑɪz/

Word forms

minimize minimizes minimizing minimized minimise

Etymology

From Latin minimus + -ize.

Synonyms

besmall smallify abase abate belittle bring down embase cut decrease decrement diminish foreshorten lessen lilliputianize lower mince minimize reduce shrink banalize disparage play down bagatellize cut down de-emphasize denigrate degrade deprecate derogate dispraise downplay make little of make nothing of set at nought superficialize trivialize underestimate underplay understate vilipend

Antonyms

maximize

Derived words

minimand minimizable minimization minimizer unminimize unminimized
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