■ verb
1》 make or become less.
2》 [as adjective ~ed ] Music denoting an interval which is one semitone less than the corresponding minor or perfect interval.
Phrases
( the law of ) ~ing returns the principle that as expenditure or investment increases each further increase produces a proportionately smaller return.
Derivatives
~able adjective
Origin
ME: blend of archaic minish '~' (based on L. minutia 'smallness') and obs. diminue 'speak disparagingly' (based on L. deminuere 'lessen').