Main Entry: ¹at·ten·u·ate

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈten-yə-wət, -yü-ət\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English attenuat, from Latin attenuatus, past participle of attenuare to make thin, from ad- + tenuis thin — more at thin

Date: 15th century

1 : reduced especially in thickness, density, or force
2 : tapering gradually usually to a long slender point <attenuate leaves>