n. & v.
n. 1 a slight mark or hollow in a surface made by, or as if by, a blow with a hammer etc. 2 a noticeable effect (lunch made a dent in our funds).
v.tr. 1 mark with a dent. 2 have (esp. an adverse) effect on (the news dented our hopes).
[ ME, prob. f INDENT(1) ]