I. ˈdent verb
Etymology: Middle English, short for indenten to make dents in, indent
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to make a dent in
dent a car's bumper
2. : to have a weakening effect on
intransitive verb
: to form a dent by sinking inward : become dented
II. noun
Date: 1565
1. : a depression or hollow made by a blow or by pressure
2. : an appreciable impression or effect often made against resistance
hasn't made a dent in the problem
specifically : a weakening or lessening effect
costs that have made a dent in the budget
III. noun
Etymology: French, literally, tooth, from Latin dent-, dens
Date: 1703
: tooth 3a
IV. abbreviation
dental; dentist; dentistry