Dilute | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Dĭ-lūte', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DILUTED; p. pr. & vb. n. DILUTING.] [Lat. diluere, dilutum, from di, for dis, and luere, equivalent to lavare, to wash, lave; Fr. diluer, Sp. diluir, It. diluire. Cf. DELUGE.] 1. To make more liquid by admixture with something; to thin and dissolve by mixing.

Mix their watery store With the chyle's current, and dilute it more. Blackmore. 2. To diminish, by mixing, the strength, flavor, color, &c., of; to reduce, especially by the addition of water; to attenuate; to weaken.

Lest these colors should be diluted and weakened by the mixture of any adventitious light. Newton.

Dĭ-lūte', v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To become attenuated or thin; as, it dilutes easily.

Di-lūte', a.

adjective

[Lat. dilutus, p. p. of diluere. See supra.] Diluted; thin; attenuated; reduced in strength, as spirit or color. “A dilute and waterish exposition.” Hopkins.