attenuate
attenuate — 動詞
- attenuatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- attenuateshe / she / it
- attenuatedpast simple
- attenuating-ing form
1. to reduce the strength, power, or damaging effect of something, often in a gradu
減弱；削弱
降低強度或效力
to reduce the strength, power, or damaging effect of something, often in a gradual or controlled way
The thick curtains attenuated the morning light, so Mei could sleep past sunrise.
厚窗簾減弱了早晨的光線，讓 Mei 得以睡到日出之後。
attenuated + noun phrase (morning light)
Lakan's doctor explained that the injection would attenuate the pain for about six hours.
Lakan 的醫生說明，這針劑能減輕疼痛約六小時。
attenuate + noun phrase (pain/effect)
The tree canopy attenuated the force of the rain before the drops reached the ground.
樹冠在雨滴到達地面之前，減弱了雨勢。
Without the vaccine's ability to attenuate the virus, far more people would become sick.
如果疫苗沒有減弱病毒的能力，就會有更多人患病。
Earthquake damage can be attenuated by installing flexible supports in older buildings.
在舊建築物安裝彈性支架，可以減輕地震造成的損害。
- weaken
more general and common; can apply to physical objects, arguments, or abilities
- reduce
focuses on decreasing size, amount, or degree; far more frequent in everyday English
- diminish
suggests a gradual reduction that makes something seem smaller or less important
- mitigate
specifically about making something harmful less severe; common in formal and legal writing
- intensify
to make something stronger or more extreme
- strengthen
to make something more powerful or effective
文法句型
attenuate + noun phrase
be attenuated + by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be attenuated by). Common in scientific, medical, and technical writing, but much rarer in everyday spoken English than simpler synonyms such as 'weaken' or 'reduce'.
常見錯誤
2. to make an object longer and thinner by stretching, pulling, or shaping it, espe
使變細；拉長
將物體拉伸使其變長變細
to make an object longer and thinner by stretching, pulling, or shaping it, especially in art, design, or craft
The glass artist attenuated the hot tube into a long, narrow vase with elegant curves.
玻璃藝術家將熱玻璃管拉長，做成一個線條優雅的細長花瓶。
attenuate + noun phrase + into + noun phrase
The craftsman heated the metal rod and carefully attenuated it into a long, flexible wire.
工匠將金屬棒加熱，然後小心地將其拉成又長又軟的金屬絲。
attenuate + noun phrase + into + noun phrase (stretching context)
As the bamboo shoot grows, its upper stem attenuates and bends toward the light.
竹筍在成長過程中，上端的莖會變細並朝著光線彎曲。
In traditional Japanese joinery, craftsmen carefully attenuate wooden beams to produce graceful arched roofs.
在傳統日本木工中，工匠會仔細將木樑削細，以打造優雅的弧形屋頂。
The wire was heated and carefully attenuated until it became as thin as thread.
金屬絲經過加熱並仔細拉細，直到變得跟線一樣細。
文法句型
attenuate + noun phrase + into + noun phrase
attenuate + noun phrase + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically describes a physical change in shape or dimension. Common in art criticism, biological description, and craft contexts. This sense is less frequent than the 'make weaker' sense.
常見錯誤
attenuate — 形容詞
- attenuatepositive
- more attenuatecomparative
- most attenuatesuperlative
1. reduced in power, strength, or effect compared with the original or normal state
減弱的
強度或效果降低的
reduced in power, strength, or effect compared with the original or normal state
The attenuated signal meant that Kian could not pick up the radio station clearly.
衰減的訊號意味著 Kian 無法清楚收到那個電台。
attenuated + noun (signal)
Doctors use an attenuated form of the virus to make the annual flu vaccine safer.
醫生使用減毒形式的病毒，讓每年施打的流感疫苗更安全。
attenuated form of + noun phrase
After six hours of hiking, the group's attenuated energy levels forced them to rest.
經過六小時的徒步旅行後，隊員們衰減的體力迫使他們停下來休息。
An attenuated beam of blue light escaped through the tiny crack in the laboratory wall.
一道微弱的藍光從實驗室牆壁的細小裂縫中透出。
The attenuated breeze from the small fan was barely enough to cool Yumi's face.
小風扇吹出的微弱風力，幾乎不足以吹涼 Yumi 的臉。
- intensified
made stronger or more extreme
- strengthened
made more powerful or effective
用法筆記
Often used before a noun (attributive position), especially in medical and technical contexts (attenuated virus, attenuated signal). In everyday conversation, 'weak', 'dull', or 'faint' are more natural choices.