dilute
C1Formal and technical, with some use in general contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
To reduce the strength, force, or purity of something by adding an element that weakens it.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a reduction in quality, concentration, or effectiveness. Can be neutral (technical process) or negative (weakening something valuable).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The pronunciation of the final 't' is more aspirated in American English, but this is a general phonetic tendency, not specific to this word.
Connotations
Similar negative connotation when referring to weakening an idea, brand, or solution.
Frequency
Slightly more common in technical/scientific contexts in both varieties. Used equally in business/finance contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] dilute [NP] with [NP][NP] be diluted by [NP][NP] become diluteddilute [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dilute the wine (figurative: to spoil something by adding inferior elements)”
- “Watering down (common near-synonymous phrasal verb)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to reducing shareholder value by issuing more shares (e.g., 'The new stock issue will dilute existing holdings').
Academic
Used in chemistry, biology, and economics to describe reduction in concentration or value.
Everyday
Typically refers to making drinks weaker or making paint/cleaning products less strong.
Technical
Precise term for creating a solution of lower concentration from a stock solution.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Always dilute the orange squash before drinking.
- The merger could dilute the company's distinctive culture.
- She diluted the bleach with cold water for cleaning.
American English
- Dilute the fertilizer according to the instructions.
- Adding too many new members diluted the team's focus.
- The lawyer argued the evidence was diluted by speculation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You must dilute the juice with water.
- The paint is too strong, so I will dilute it.
- If you dilute the medicine, it might not work properly.
- The rain diluted the colour of the paint on the wall.
- Critics claim the new policy dilutes the original principles of the organisation.
- The acid must be carefully diluted in a controlled environment.
- The company issued new shares, which had the effect of diluting the value of existing stock.
- His authoritative tone was diluted by his frequent hesitation and self-correction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DILUTE as 'DIE-LOOT' - imagine pirates taking strong rum and LOOTing its strength by adding water until the rum 'DIES' (becomes weak).
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS CONCENTRATION / PURITY IS UNDILUTED LIQUID (e.g., 'a dilute argument', 'undiluted joy').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'dissolve' (растворять). 'Dilute' is разбавлять, which is weakening an existing solution.
- The adjective 'dilute' (разбавленный) is less common in Russian than the verb form.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dilute' to mean 'dissolve' (e.g., 'Dilute the sugar in the tea' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'delute' or 'diloute'.
- Incorrect stress: placing stress on the first syllable (/ˈdaɪluːt/).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does it mean to 'dilute' shares?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dissolve' means to mix a solid into a liquid until it disappears (e.g., sugar in tea). 'Dilute' means to add more liquid to an existing liquid mixture to make it weaker.
Rarely. It is usually neutral (a technical process) or negative (weakening something desirable). A positive use might be 'dilute the anxiety', meaning to reduce an unwanted intensity.
Primarily, but it's commonly used metaphorically for ideas, effects, brands, and financial value (e.g., 'dilute the impact', 'dilute earnings per share').
The primary noun is 'dilution'. The adjective form is also 'dilute' (e.g., a dilute solution).
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