dwindle

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Pronunciation

• (British, America) IPA: /ˈdwɪn.dəl/

Verb

dwindle (dwindles, present participle dwindling; past and past participle dwindled)

1. (intransitive) To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity.
   • 1802, T. Paynell (translator), Erasmus, The Complaint of Peace

     [E]very thing that was improving gradually degenerates and dwindles away to nothing, […]

2. (intransitive, figuratively) To fall away in quality; degenerate, sink.
   • , Vicar, III

     ''The flattery of his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation.

   • 1709, Jonathan Swift, A Project for the Advancement of Religion and the Reformation of Manners

     Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious clubs.

   • 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress

     The larger the empire, the more dwindles the mind of the citizen.

3. (transitive) To lessen; to bring low.

   • Our drooping days are dwindled down to naught.

4. To break up or disperse.

Translations

• French: diminuer, fondre, s'amenuiser, se tarir, se dessécher, disparaître, s'évanouir, décroître
• German: schwinden
• Italian: restringersi, diminuire
• Portuguese: diminuir, decrescer
• Russian: уменьша́ться
• Spanish: disminuir, agotarse, desaparecer, menguar

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