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| dwarf [ dwawrf ] |
noun (plural dwarves [ dwawrvz ] or dwarfs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. person small for medical reasons: somebody of small stature due to medical reasons, usually somebody with an average-sized body but unusually short limbs, or somebody with growth hormone deficiency
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2. biology small plant or animal: a plant or animal that is much smaller than others of its species, usually as a result of selective breeding
(
often used before a noun
)
  a dwarf conifer
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3. small imaginary humanoid: a small stocky imaginary being resembling a human, associated with mountains, mines, and buried treasures. Fictional dwarves were often believed to have magic powers and to be sometimes malevolent.
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4. astronomy
Same as dwarf star
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transitive verb (past and past participle dwarfed, present participle dwarf·ing, 3rd person present singular dwarfs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. make somebody or something seem small: to make somebody or something else seem very small or very unimportant by comparison
The cathedral is dwarfed by the enormous tower blocks surrounding it.
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2. stunt somebody's or something's growth: to stunt the growth of somebody or something
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| [ Old English dweorg< Germanic] |
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| dwarf·ish adjective |
| dwarf·ish·ly adverb |
| dwarf·ish·ness noun |
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