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| di·min·ish [ di mínnish ] (past and past participle di·min·ished, present participle di·min·ish·ing, 3rd person present singular di·min·ish·es) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb make or become smaller: to make something smaller or less important, or become smaller or less important
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2. transitive and intransitive verb seem or make seem smaller: to appear smaller, or make something appear smaller
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3. transitive and intransitive verb architecture taper from bottom to top: to taper from the lower part to the upper part, or make something taper in this way
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4. transitive verb music contract musical interval: to contract a perfect or minor musical interval by one semitone
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| [15th century. Blend of obsolete diminue (< Latin minuere "lessen") + minish "diminish" (< Latin minutia "smallness")] |
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  di·min·ish·ing·ly adverb |
| di·min·ish·ment noun |
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