dilute Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
    thin out; cut; reduce; thin.
    • cut bourbon
  2. verb corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
    load; stretch; debase; adulterate.
    • adulterate liquor
  3. adjective reduced in strength or concentration or quality or purity
    diluted.
    • diluted alcohol
    • a dilute solution
    • dilute acetic acid

WordNet

Di*lute" transitive verb
Etymology
L. dilutus, p. p. of diluere to wash away, dilute; di- = dis- + luere, equiv. to lavare to wash, lave. See Lave, and cf. Deluge.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Diluted; present participle & verbal noun Diluting
Definitions
  1. To make thinner or more liquid by admixture with something; to thin and dissolve by mixing.
    Mix their watery store. With the chyle's current, and dilute it more. Blackmore.
  2. To diminish the strength, flavor, color, etc., of, by mixing; to reduce, especially by the addition of water; to temper; to attenuate; to weaken.
    Lest these colors should be diluted and weakened by the mixture of any adventitious light. Sir I. Newton.
Di*lute" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become attenuated, thin, or weak; as, it dilutes easily.
Di*lute" adjective
Etymology
L. dilutus, p. p.
Definitions
  1. Diluted; thin; weak.
    A dilute and waterish exposition. Hopkins.

Webster 1913