attenuation

/əˌtenjuˈeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · [ətˌɛnjuˈeʃən] /əˌtenjuˈeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · [ətˌɛnjuˈeʃən] /ə-ˌten-yə-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce attenuation (audio) -yü-ˈā-/ (ame, mw)

attenuation — noun

1. a gradual or measured drop in how strong, powerful, or effective something is.

1.名詞C1
釋義

a gradual or measured drop in how strong, powerful, or effective something is.

例句

Engineers measured signal attenuation after the fibre line passed under the river.

collocation: signal attenuation

The foam wall panels increased attenuation of drum noise in the practice room.

attenuation of + noise

同義詞
  • weakening

    the broad everyday word, with less technical flavour

  • reduction

    focuses on a decrease in amount, not specifically on lost force

  • damping

    usually refers to reducing sound, movement, or vibration on purpose

反義詞

文法句型

attenuation of + signal/noise/virus

attenuation in + material/system

用法筆記

Often used in technical writing for signals, sound, heat, or disease-causing power. It can describe either a deliberate reduction or a measurable drop that happens as something passes through a material or system.

2. the process or state of becoming longer and thinner because something has been s

2.名詞C2
釋義

the process or state of becoming longer and thinner because something has been stretched or drawn out.

例句

The jeweller watched the attenuation of the gold wire as the rollers pulled it.

attenuation of + wire

Repeated stretching caused attenuation of the dough into long, pale strands.

caused attenuation of + material

同義詞
  • thinning

    focuses on becoming narrower, without clearly suggesting extra length

  • stretching

    emphasizes the pulling action rather than the thin final shape

  • elongation

    more technical and focuses more on added length than on reduced thickness

反義詞
  • thickening

    means becoming wider or less thin

  • shortening

    means becoming less long instead of more drawn out

文法句型

attenuation of + wire/tendon/tube

show attenuation near + point

用法筆記

Mostly technical and often used for fibres, tissue, metal, or other material under pulling force. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about shape becoming longer and thinner, not about power or effect becoming weaker.