DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 di·min·ish /dəˈmɪnɪʃ/
 (vt.)(vi.)(使)減少,(使)變小

 Di·min·ish v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diminished p. pr. & vb. n. Diminishing.]
 1. To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in bulk or amount; to lessen; -- opposed to augment or increase.
    Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt.   --Barrow.
 2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken.
    This doth nothing diminish their opinion.   --Robynson (More's Utopia).
    I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.   --Ezek. xxix. 15.
 O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars
 Hide their diminished heads.   --Milton.
 3. Mus. To make smaller by a half step; to make (an interval) less than minor; as, a diminished seventh.
 4. To take away; to subtract.
    Neither shall ye diminish aught from it.   --Deut. iv. 2.
 Diminished column, one whose upper diameter is less than the lower.
 Diminished scale, or Diminishing scale, a scale of gradation used in finding the different points for drawing the spiral curve of the volute. --Gwilt.
 Diminishing rule Arch., a board cut with a concave edge, for fixing the entasis and curvature of a shaft.
 Diminishing stile Arch., a stile which is narrower in one part than in another, as in many glazed doors.
 Syn: -- To decrease; lessen; abate; reduce; contract; curtail; impair; degrade. See Decrease.

 Di·min·ish, v. i. To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.
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 diminish
      v 1: decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework
           decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin
           pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fall to under a
           hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper" [syn: decrease,
            lessen, fall] [ant: increase]
      2: lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of; "don't
         belittle your colleagues" [syn: belittle]