DENT

[verb] [C], [noun] - (to make) a small hollow mark in the surface of something caused by pressure or being hitSomebody made a large dent in the back of my car while it was parked outside the house.To make or put a dent in an amount, esp. of money, is to reduce it.Buying a new television has made a big dent in our savings. [C]Tax increases this year have put a huge dent in the company's profits. [C]I dropped a hammer on the floor, and it dented the floorboard. [T](figurative) His confidence/ego/pride was dented (= reduced) when he didn't get into the football team. [T]