Definition

1. Verb:

   • To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding another substance, especially water.
   • To reduce the strength, force, purity, or effectiveness of something.

2. Adjective:

   • Describing a liquid that has been made thinner or weaker by the addition of another substance.
   • Describing something that has been reduced in strength, force, or purity.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Please dilute the orange juice with some water; it's too strong.
  • Adding too many new members could dilute the team's original vision.
  • The company's brand value was diluted by launching too many low-quality products.

• Adjective:

  • For cleaning, use a dilute solution of bleach and water.
  • The paint color was a dilute shade of blue, almost grey.

Advanced Usage

• "to dilute oneself": (Figurative) To overextend one's efforts or attention across too many areas, reducing overall effectiveness.

  • By trying to be an expert in marketing, finance, and design, he risked diluting himself.

• "dilute the message": (Figurative) To make a communication less powerful or clear by adding unnecessary or conflicting information.

  • The advertisement had too many details, which diluted the message about the product's main benefit.

Variants and Related Words

• Dilution (n): The action of making something weaker or less concentrated, or the state of being diluted.

  • The dilution of the acid made it safe to handle.
  • Shareholders were concerned about the dilution of their ownership stake.

• Diluted (adj): The past participle form, commonly used as an adjective meaning "made dilute."

  • The report was a diluted version of the original, with all controversial opinions removed.

Synonyms

• Verb: Thin, water down, weaken, reduce, attenuate, adulterate.
• Adjective: Weak, watered-down, thin, reduced, attenuated.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• "to water down": (Often used interchangeably with 'dilute') To dilute a liquid; to make an idea, proposal, or regulation less forceful or severe.
  • The original reform bill was watered down after intense political debate.

Related Idioms

• "Dilute the pool": (Business/Management) To lower the overall quality or skill level of a group by adding less qualified members.
  • Hiring too quickly just to fill positions can dilute the talent pool.

Adjective

1. reduced in strength or concentration or quality or purity
   • diluted alcohol
   • a dilute solution
   • dilute acetic acid

Verb

1. corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
   • adulterate liquor
2. lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
   • cut bourbon