First Known Use: 1596
Dictionary
dwindle
verb dwin·dle \ˈdwin-dəl\
: to gradually become smaller
dwin·dleddwin·dling \-(d)liŋ, -dəl-iŋ\
Full Definition of DWINDLE
intransitive verb
: to become steadily less : shrink
transitive verb
: to make steadily less
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Origin of DWINDLE
probably frequentative of dwine to waste away, from Middle English, from Old English dwīnan; akin to Old Norse dvīna to pine away, deyja to die — more at die
Related to DWINDLE
Synonym Discussion of DWINDLE
decrease, lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, dwindle mean to grow or make less. decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity <slowly decreased the amount of pressure>. lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number <has been unable to lessen her debt>. diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total <his visual acuity has diminished>. reduce implies a bringing down or lowering <you must reduce your caloric intake>. abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount <the storm abated>. dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller <their provisions dwindled slowly>.
DWINDLE Defined for Kids
dwindle
verb dwin·dle \ˈdwin-dəl\
dwin·dleddwin·dling
Definition of DWINDLE for Kids
: to make or become less or smaller <… she had suddenly dwindled down to the size of a little doll … — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass>
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