Main Entry:

²at·ten·u·ate

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈten-yə-ˌwāt, -yü-ˌāt\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

at·ten·u·at·ed; at·ten·u·at·ing

Date:

1530

transitive verb 1 : to make thin or slender 2 : to make thin in consistency : rarefy 3 : to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of : weaken 4 : to reduce the severity, virulence, or vitality of <an attenuated virus> intransitive verb : to become thin, fine, or less

— at·ten·u·a·tion \-ˌten-yə-ˈwā-shən, -yü-ˈā-\ noun