diminish[di'miniʃ]

• vt.
  • 使变小，减小；减少；逐渐缩减，缩小；降低：

    The dry spell quickly diminished our water suply.

    干旱期使我们的水供应锐减。

    Unforeseen expenses diminished our savings.

    意外的开支减少了我们的存款数目。

  • • 削弱…的重要性，使不重要：

      Time will not diminish our friendship.

      时间的流逝将不会减弱我们的友谊。

    • 削弱…的权势(或权力)；降低…的声誉(或威望、名声等)：

      Several unpopular measures diminished the government's popularity.

      几项不得人心的措施使政府的声誉一落千丈。

    • 轻视，贬低，贬抑：

      It's not fair to diminish her efforts;she's worked very hard.

      贬低她的努力是不公平的，她已非常努力地工作。

  • 【音乐】减(音程等)，把(音程)减半
  • 【建筑学】使(柱子等)的直径渐减，使成锥形，使成尖顶
• vi.
  • 缩小；变小；变少，减少：

    Their food supply gradually diminished as the days wore on.

    随着时间一天天地过去，他们的食品供应逐渐减少了。

    Suddenly the wind diminished and the seas grew calm again.

    突然风平了，浪又静了。

    Time will never make our friendship diminish.

    时间的流逝永不会使我们的友谊减弱。

  • 失去重要性；失势；降低声誉；被贬低：

    The governor's popularity has diminished.

    州长的声望已下降。

  • 【建筑学】直径渐减，形成锥形，成尖顶
• 近义词:

  decrease