Library / English Dictionary

DIMINUTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of decreasing or reducing something

Synonyms:

decrease; diminution; reduction; step-down

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("diminution" is a kind of...):

change of magnitude (the act of changing the amount or size of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "diminution"):

tax credit (a direct reduction in tax liability (not dependent on the taxpayer's tax bracket))

shelter; tax shelter (a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings)

declassification (reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon)

amortisation; amortization (the reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years)

reverse split; reverse stock split; split down (a decrease in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity)

contraction (the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope)

depreciation (a decrease in price or value)

weakening (the act of reducing the strength of something)

rollback (reducing prices back to some earlier level)

deduction; discount; price reduction (the act of reducing the selling price of merchandise)

deflation (the act of letting the air out of something)

deduction; subtraction (the act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole))

cut (the act of reducing the amount or number)

mitigation; moderation (the action of lessening in severity or intensity)

lowering (the act of causing to become less)

cutback (a reduction in quantity or rate)

devaluation (the reduction of something's value or worth)

devitalisation; devitalization (the act of reducing the vitality of something)

extenuation; mitigation; palliation (to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious)

alleviation; easement; easing; relief (the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance))

de-escalation ((war) a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war))

minimisation; minimization (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

depletion (the act of decreasing something markedly)

shortening (act of decreasing in length)

shrinking (the act of becoming less)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The statement of a theme in notes of lesser duration (usually half the length of the original)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("diminution" is a kind of...):

statement ((music) the presentation of a musical theme)

Antonym:

augmentation (the statement of a theme in notes of greater duration (usually twice the length of the original))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Change toward something smaller or lower

Synonyms:

decline; diminution

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("diminution" is a kind of...):

decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "diminution"):

declension; decline in quality; deterioration; worsening (process of changing to an inferior state)

detumescence (diminution of swelling; the subsidence of anything swollen)

ebb; ebbing; wane (a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number))

erosion (a gradual decline of something)

loss (gradual decline in amount or activity)

nosedive (a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline)

sinking spell (a temporary decline in health or value)

slippage (decline from a standard level of performance or achievement)

Derivation:

diminish (decrease in size, extent, or range)

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