/ əˈtenjueɪt; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to make sth weaker or less effective :
The drug attenuates the effects of the virus.
► at·tenu·ation / əˌtenjʊˈeɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin attenuat- made slender, from the verb attenuare , from ad- to + tenuare make thin (from tenuis thin).