Attenuate: meaning, definitions and examples

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attenuate

 

[ ษ™หˆtษ›n.ju.eษชt ]

Verb
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

Translations of the word "attenuate" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น atenuar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคฎเคœเคผเฅ‹เคฐ เค•เคฐเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช abschwรคchen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ melemahkan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะพัะปะฐะฑะธั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ osล‚abiฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅผฑใ‚ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท attรฉnuer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ atenuar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท zayฤฑflatmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์•ฝํ™”์‹œํ‚ค๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุฎููŠู

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ oslabit

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ oslabiลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ‡ๅผฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ oslabliti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ veikja

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ำ™ะปัั–ั€ะตั‚ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒกแƒฃแƒกแƒขแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zษ™iflษ™tmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ atenuar

Etymology

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.