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