[de.flate] vb de.flat.ed ; de.flat.ing [de- + -flate (as in inflate)] vt (1891) 1: to release air or gas from
2: to reduce in size, importance, or effectiveness "~ his ego with cutting remarks"
3: to reduce (a price level) or cause (a volume of credit) to contract ~ vi: to lose firmness through or as if through the escape of contained gas syn see contract -- de.fla.tor also de.fla.ter n