v. /euh ten"yooh ayt'/ ; adj. /euh ten"yooh it, -ayt'/ , v. , attenuated, attenuating , adj.
v.t.
1. to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.
2. to make thin; make slender or fine.
3. Bacteriol. , Immunol. to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium.
4. Electronics. to decrease the amplitude of (an electronic signal).
v.i.
5. to become thin or fine; lessen.
adj.
6. weakened; diminishing.
7. Bot. tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.
[ 1520-30; attenuatus (ptp. of attenuare to thin, reduce). See AT-, TENUIS, -ATE 1 ]