de ‧ flate /ˌdiːˈfleɪt, dɪ-/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ inflatable , ↑ inflated , ↑ inflationary , ↑ deflationary , ↑ reflationary ; noun : ↑ inflation , ↑ inflatable , ↑ deflation , ↑ reflation ; verb : ↑ inflate , ↑ deflate , ↑ reflate ]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: de- + inflate ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] if a tyre, ↑ balloon etc deflates, or if you deflate it, it gets smaller because the gas inside it comes out OPP inflate ⇨ go down , let down
REGISTER
In everyday British English, people usually say an object goes down rather than deflates :
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It looks like the air bed has gone down.
2 . [transitive] to make someone feel less important or less confident:
She was deflated when Fen made no comment on her achievement.
3 . [transitive] to show that a statement, argument etc is wrong:
Simkin hoped to find a way to deflate his opponent’s argument.
4 . [intransitive and transitive] technical to change economic rules or conditions in a country so that prices fall or stop rising