I. dent 1 /dent/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: dint ]
1 . a hollow area in the surface of something, usually made by something hitting it
dent in
There was a large dent in the passenger door.
2 . a reduction in the amount of something
dent in
The trip made a big dent in our savings.
Eight years of effort have hardly put a dent in drug trafficking.
II. dent 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [intransitive and transitive] if you dent something, or if it dents, you hit or press it so that its surface is bent inwards:
No one was injured, but the car was scratched and dented.
2 . [transitive] to damage or harm something:
The scandal has dented his reputation.