dilute

UK: /daɪˈluːt/

US: /dɪˈlut, daɪ-; adj. also ˈdaɪlut/

US: (di lo̅o̅t′, dī-; adj. also dī′lo̅o̅t)

Inflections of 'dilute' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

dilutes

v 3rd person singular

diluting

v pres p

diluted

v past

diluted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•lute /dɪˈlut, daɪ-; adj. also ˈdaɪlut/   v., -lut•ed, -lut•ing, adj. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by the addition of water or other liquid:
   Dilute the ammonia with water before you use it.
2. to reduce the strength of, as by adding or mixing something:
   The professor's proposals were diluted by the lack of support from his department.

adj. [before a noun]

3. Chemistry reduced in strength;
   weak:
   serving dilute whiskey.

di•lu•tion /dɪˈluʃən, daɪ-/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•lute  (di lo̅o̅t′, dī-;adj. also dī′lo̅o̅t), v., -lut•ed, -lut•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. to make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by the addition of water or the like.
2. to make fainter, as a color.
3. to reduce the strength, force, or efficiency of by admixture.

v.i. 

4. to become diluted.

adj. 

5. Chemistry reduced in strength, as a chemical by admixture;
   weak:
   a dilute solution.

• Latin dīlūtus washed away, dissolved (past participle of dīluere), equivalent. to dī- di-² + -lūtus, combining form of lautus (lav(ere) to wash + -tus past participle suffix)
• 1545–55

di•lut′er, di•lu′tor, n. 
di•lu′tive, adj. 
Synonyms

• 3. weaken, temper, mitigate, diminish.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dilute / daɪˈluːt/ verb

1. to make or become less concentrated, esp by adding water or a thinner
2. to make or become weaker in force, effect, etc

adjective

1. (of a solution, suspension, mixture, etc) having a low concentration or a concentration that has been reduced by admixture
2. (of a substance) present in solution, esp a weak solution in water: dilute acetic acid

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dīluere, from dis- apart + -luere, from lavāre to wash

diˈluter noun