vt.減少；減損；貶低

vi.變少；逐漸變細

We should try to diminish the cost of production. 我們應盡力減少生產成本。

His illness diminished his health. 疾病侵蝕了他的健康。

He likes to diminish the skills of others. 他喜歡貶低別人的技能。

The amount of water in the pond will diminish as the dry season continues. 如果旱季還持續(xù)下去，池塘中的水量將減少。

As he turned the knob, the sound diminished. 他一轉旋鈕，聲音就變小了。

diminish的基本意思是“減少”“縮小”,指某事物對照原本基礎上數量或質量少了很多; 常引申表示“減弱…的權勢”。

diminish可用作不及物動詞,也可用作及物動詞,作及物動詞時,其后多接名詞或代詞作賓語。