Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Attenuate Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🔽
Add to dictionary

attenuate

[əˈtɛn.ju.eɪt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

reduce intensity

To attenuate means to reduce the force, effect, or value of something. It is often used in a scientific or medical context to describe the weakening of a property, such as the intensity of a signal or the virulence of a virus. For example, an attenuated vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened, thus reducing its ability to cause disease while still prompting an immune response. The term can also be applied to sound waves, light, or any phenomenon that can be diminished.

Synonyms

diminish, lessen, mitigate, reduce, weaken.

Examples of usage

  • The engineer found a way to attenuate the signal.
  • The vaccine was designed to attenuate the virus's effects.
  • They used filters to attenuate the noise in the recording.
  • In physics, materials can attenuate electromagnetic radiation.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • In physics, attenuation refers to the reduction in the strength of a signal as it travels through a medium.
  • Medical studies use the term to describe the reduction in the virulence of pathogens during vaccine development.
  • Sound waves attenuate as they travel through different materials, affecting how we hear sounds from various distances.

Psychology

  • Attenuation theory in psychology suggests that our brain filters out irrelevant information, allowing us to focus better.
  • Attention can attenuate distractions, making important tasks easier to manage.
  • This concept helps explain why we sometimes miss details in noisy environments.

Literature

  • Writers often use attenuation as a literary device to gradually decrease the intensity of a scene or character's emotions.
  • In poetry, attenuation can enhance the emotional impact by softening the language used.
  • Famous authors have explored themes of attenuation in their works, reflecting the human experience of loss or fading.

Technology

  • In telecommunications, engineers measure signal attenuation to ensure communications are clear and effective.
  • Fiber-optic cables are designed to minimize attenuation so that data can travel faster and further.
  • Audio engineers adjust settings to achieve the right level of signal attenuation for optimal sound quality.

Origin of 'attenuate'

Main points about word origin

  • The term comes from the Latin word 'attenuatus', meaning 'made thin'.
  • In Middle English, it was used to describe the process of making something less dense or diluted.
  • The prefix 'ad-' means 'to' while 'tenuare' means 'to make thin'.

The word 'attenuate' originates from the Latin 'attenuare', which means 'to make thin or slender'. It is derived from 'ad-', meaning 'to', and 'tenuis', meaning 'thin'. The word began to emerge in English in the late 15th century, initially used in contexts relating to making something less dense or less substantial. Over time, its usage expanded to include contexts in medicine, acoustics, and even mathematics, where it refers to the reduction of values or impacts. By the 18th century, scientists and researchers began using the term more frequently to describe processes in physics and biology, leading to its current understanding in modern terminology. Its adaptability in varying fields showcases the evolution of language and how concepts can integrate into scientific vocabulary.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,608, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.