dilute
/daɪˈluːt/ (bre, ipa) · /daɪˈluːt/ (ame, ipa) · /dī-ˈlüt də-/ (ame, mw)
dilute — verb
- dilutepresent simple I / you / we / they
- diluteshe / she / it
- dilutedpast simple
- diluting-ing form
1. to add a liquid such as water to another liquid so that the resulting mixture is
to add a liquid such as water to another liquid so that the resulting mixture is less thick, strong, or concentrated than it was before
Ari diluted the orange juice with sparkling water to make it less sweet.
dilute [liquid] with [liquid] for reducing concentration
The lab technician diluted the acid before adding it to the sample.
Feng always dilutes his coffee with extra milk because he finds it too strong.
This paint is too thick — Lucas diluted it with a small amount of water.
Vivek carefully diluted the bleach before using it to clean the kitchen floor.
- thin
more informal, mainly used in cooking and paint contexts
- water down
phrasal verb, more informal, often suggests making something too weak
- weaken
broader in meaning, can apply to non-liquids as well
- concentrate
the opposite process of reducing the liquid while keeping the substance
- strengthen
general opposite, less technical
文法句型
dilute + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
The object is always a liquid or substance that can be mixed. Common prepositions are 'with' (what you add) and 'in' (the medium used for diluting).
常見錯誤
2. to reduce the power, effect, or importance of something such as a belief, opinio
to reduce the power, effect, or importance of something such as a belief, opinion, message, or quality, often by adding too many different elements to it
Rachel felt that adding more staff diluted the quality of the training program.
The company's strong message was diluted by too many different advertisements.
passive: be diluted by [something] for weakened impact
Eitan worried that constant praise would dilute the impact of genuine feedback.
Selim believed that the political party had diluted its values to attract more voters.
Tendai's enthusiasm for the project was diluted by the endless delays and frustrating paperwork.
- weaken
broader and more common; does not imply a mixing process
- water down
informal and more negative; suggests deliberate weakening
- diminish
more formal; suggests gradual loss in value or importance
- strengthen
direct opposite in figurative sense
- reinforce
implies adding support rather than restoring original strength
文法句型
dilute + abstract noun phrase
be diluted + by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be diluted by) when something abstract loses its strength. Subject is typically an abstract noun such as 'message', 'values', 'quality', 'impact', or 'enthusiasm'.
常見錯誤
dilute — adjective
- dilutepositive
- more dilutecomparative
- most dilutesuperlative
1. describes a liquid or substance that has been made weaker or less concentrated b
describes a liquid or substance that has been made weaker or less concentrated by adding another liquid to it
The diluted cleaning solution was safe enough to use on the wooden floor.
attributive use: diluted + noun
Ezra drank a glass of diluted juice because the concentrated version was too sour.
A diluted acid solution is less dangerous to handle in a school laboratory.
The nurse applied a diluted antiseptic to clean the wound gently.
Iker preferred diluted orange squash over the full-strength version when it was hot outside.
- watered-down
informal, often suggests something has been made too weak or less pure
- weak
broader; can describe natural weakness rather than intentional thinning
- concentrated
direct opposite; having the original strength preserved
- full-strength
common in everyday contexts like juice or cleaning products
- undiluted
most precise opposite
文法句型
attributive use: diluted + noun
predicative use: be + diluted
用法筆記
Commonly used before nouns (attributive) in cooking, science, and medical contexts. Can also be used predicatively: 'The solution is diluted.'