English
dwarf
Pronunciation Noun

dwarf (plural dwarfs)

  1. (mythology) Any member of a race of beings from (especially Scandinavian and other Germanic) folklore, usually depicted as having some sort of supernatural powers and being skilled in crafting and metalworking, often as short with long beards, and sometimes as clashing with elves.
  2. (now, often offensive) A person of short stature, often one whose limbs are disproportionately small in relation to the body as compared with normal adults, usually as the result of a genetic condition.
    Synonyms: midget, pygmy (imprecise)
    Antonyms: ettin, giant
  3. An animal, plant or other thing much smaller than the usual of its sort.
    Synonyms: runt
    dwarf tree
    dwarf honeysuckle
  4. (star) A star of relatively small size.
Translations Translations Translations Translations
  • French: naine
  • German: Zwerg, Zwergstern
  • Italian: nana
  • Portuguese: anã
  • Russian: ка́рлик
Adjective

dwarf (comparative dwarfer, superlative dwarfest)

  1. (especially in botany) miniature#English|Miniature.
    The specimen is a very dwarf form of the plant.
    It is possible to grow the plants as dwarf as one desires.
Translations
  • French: nain, naine
  • German: Zwerg-, zwergenhaft
  • Portuguese: nanico
  • Russian: ка́рликовый
  • Spanish: enano
Verb

dwarf (dwarfs, present participle dwarfing; past and past participle dwarfed)

  1. (transitive) To render (much) smaller, turn into a dwarf (version).
    Synonyms: miniaturize, shrink
  2. (transitive) To make appear (much) smaller, puny, tiny.
    The newly-built skyscraper dwarfs all older buildings in the downtown skyline.
  3. (transitive) To make appear insignificant.
    Synonyms: eclipse, overshadow, outshadow, outshine, outdo, put to shame, upstage, surpass, outmatch, outstrip
    Bach dwarfs all other composers.
  4. (intransitive) To become (much) smaller.
    Synonyms: shrink
  5. To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt.
    • J. C. Shairp
      quote en
Translations Translations Translations Translations

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