I. ə-ˈten-yə-wət, -yü-ət adjective
Etymology: Middle English attenuat, from Latin attenuatus, past participle of attenuare to make thin, from ad- + tenuis thin — more at thin
Date: 15th century
1. : reduced especially in thickness, density, or force
2. : tapering gradually usually to a long slender point
attenuate leaves
II. ə-ˈten-yə-ˌwāt, -yü-ˌāt verb
( -at·ed ; -at·ing )
Date: 1530
transitive verb
1. : to make thin or slender
2. : to make thin in consistency : rarefy
3. : to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of : weaken
4. : to reduce the severity, virulence, or vitality of
an attenuated virus
intransitive verb
: to become thin, fine, or less
• at·ten·u·a·tion -ˌten-yə-ˈwā-shən, -yü-ˈā- noun