at·ten·u·ate

verb

/əˈtenjueɪt/

(formal)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they attenuate	/əˈtenjueɪt/ /əˈtenjueɪt/
he / she / it attenuates	/əˈtenjueɪts/ /əˈtenjueɪts/
past simple attenuated	/əˈtenjueɪtɪd/ /əˈtenjueɪtɪd/
past participle attenuated	/əˈtenjueɪtɪd/ /əˈtenjueɪtɪd/
-ing form attenuating	/əˈtenjueɪtɪŋ/ /əˈtenjueɪtɪŋ/

attenuate something to make something weaker or less effective削弱；降低；使降低效果
- The drug attenuates the effects of the virus.这药能减轻病毒的作用。
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin attenuat- ‘made slender’, from the verb attenuare, from ad- ‘to’ + tenuare ‘make thin’ (from tenuis ‘thin’).