dilute
Definitions
To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another liquid
稀释，冲淡（液体）
To weaken the force, value, or effect of something
削弱（力量、价值或效果）
(of a liquid) made weaker by adding water; not concentrated
稀释的；低浓度的
Root Breakdown
Root-deriveddi- (apart) + lut (a form of luere, 'to wash') = 'to wash apart.' Adding liquid spreads the original substance apart, thinning it. The figurative sense follows: a diluted idea or share is spread thin until it loses strength.
Root lav still carries 19 more wordsWhy It Means This
Dilute and pollute are cousins from the same 'wash' root (luere), but dilute is the gentle one. To dilute is to wash a substance apart with more liquid — think of adding water to juice. The same image powers its abstract use: voting power can be diluted when more shares are issued, and a strong message is diluted when too many points are added.
Usage Guide
- Chemistry/cooking (literal): dilute the acid with water — the core sense
- Finance: issuing new shares dilutes existing shareholders' stake
- Figurative: dilute a message / dilute the brand — weaken its impact
Note: stress is on the second syllable (di-LUTE) for both verb and adjective; some speakers say DI-lute for the adjective.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Dilute the concentrate with three parts water before drinking.
- 2.
Adding too many goals will only dilute the team's focus.
- 3.
Issuing new shares diluted the founder's ownership stake.