|
| dent [ dent ] |
verb (past and past participle dent·ed, present participle dent·ing, 3rd person present singular dents) |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. transitive and intransitive verb make depression in something by hitting: to make a shallow depression in the surface of something by hitting it or putting pressure on it, or receive a depression through pressure
|
2. transitive verb harm something abstract: to do nonphysical, usually minor, damage to something
 dented their championship hopes
|
noun (plural dents) |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. area in depressed surface: a shallow depression in the surface of something that is made by hitting it or putting pressure on it
|
2. advance: progress in reaching a goal
(
informal
)
 make a dent in the backlog
|
3. reduction: a reduction in an amount of something such as resources
(
informal
)
 a dent in the budget
|
4. nonphysical damage: nonphysical, usually minor, damage, e.g. to somebody's reputation or pride
|
| [13th century. Variant of dint] |