I. ˈdim adjective
( dim·mer ; dim·mest )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English dimm; akin to Old High German timber dark
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : emitting or having a limited or insufficient amount of light
dim stars
a dim lamp
a dim hallway
b. : dull , lusterless
dim colors
c. : lacking pronounced, clear-cut, or vigorous quality or character
a dim echo of the past
2.
a. : seen indistinctly
a dim outline
b. : perceived by the senses or mind indistinctly or weakly : faint
had only a dim notion of what was going on
c. : having little prospect of favorable result or outcome
a dim future
d. : characterized by an unfavorable, skeptical, or pessimistic attitude — usually used in the phrase take a dim view of
3. : not perceiving clearly and distinctly
dim eyes
4. : dim-witted
• dim·ly adverb
• dim·ma·ble ˈdi-mə-bəl adjective
• dim·ness noun
II. verb
( dimmed ; dim·ming )
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to make dim or lusterless
2. : to reduce the light from
intransitive verb
: to become dim
III. noun
Date: 14th century
1. archaic : dusk , dimness
2. : low beam
IV. abbreviation
1. dimension
2. diminished
3. diminuendo
4. diminutive