di|lem|ma /da I le mə, [AM ] d I l-/ (dilemmas )
1 N‑COUNT A dilemma is a difficult situation in which you have to choose between two or more alternatives. □ He was faced with the dilemma of whether or not to return to his country.
2 on the horns of a dilemma → see horn
dil|et|tan|te /d I lətæ nti, [AM ] -tɑːnt/ (dilettantes or dilettanti ) N‑COUNT You can use dilettante to talk about someone who seems interested in a subject, especially in art, but who does not really know very much about it. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
dili|gent /d I l I dʒ ə nt/ ADJ Someone who is diligent works hard in a careful and thorough way. □ Meyers is a diligent and prolific worker. ● dili|gence /d I l I dʒ ə ns/ N‑UNCOUNT □ The police are pursuing their inquiries with great diligence. ● dili|gent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The two sides are now working diligently to resolve their differences.
dill /d I l/ N‑UNCOUNT Dill is a herb with yellow flowers and a strong sweet smell.
di|lute /da I luː t/ (dilutes , diluting , diluted )
1 VERB If a liquid is diluted or dilutes , it is added to or mixes with water or another liquid, and becomes weaker. □ [V n prep] If you give your baby juice, dilute it well with cooled, boiled water. □ [be V -ed] The liquid is then diluted. □ [V ] The poisons seeping from contaminated land quickly dilute in the water. [Also V n] ● di|lu|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ …ditches dug for sewage dilution.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A dilute liquid is very thin and weak, usually because it has had water added to it. □ …a dilute solution of bleach.
3 VERB If someone or something dilutes a belief, quality, or value, they make it weaker and less effective. □ [V n] There was a clear intention to dilute black voting power. ● di|lu|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …a potentially devastating dilution of earnings per share.
di|lu|tion /da I luː ʃ ə n/ (dilutions ) N‑COUNT A dilution is a liquid that has been diluted with water or another liquid, so that it becomes weaker. □ 'Aromatherapy oils' are not pure essential oils but dilutions.
dim /d I m/ (dimmer , dimmest , dims , dimming , dimmed )
1 ADJ Dim light is not bright. □ She stood waiting, in the dim light. ● dim|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □ He followed her into a dimly lit kitchen. ● dim|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the dimness of an early September evening.
2 ADJ A dim place is rather dark because there is not much light in it. □ The room was dim and cool and quiet. ● dim|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ I squinted to adjust my eyes to the dimness.
3 ADJ A dim figure or object is not very easy to see, either because it is in shadow or darkness, or because it is far away. □ Pete's torch picked out the dim figures of Bob and Chang. ● dim|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ The shoreline could be dimly seen.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you have a dim memory or understanding of something, it is difficult to remember or is unclear in your mind. □ It seems that the '60s era of social activism is all but a dim memory. ● dim|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Christina dimly recalled the procedure.
5 ADJ If the future of something is dim , you have no reason to feel hopeful or positive about it. □ The prospects for a peaceful solution are dim.
6 ADJ If you describe someone as dim , you think that they are stupid. [INFORMAL ]
7 VERB If you dim a light or if it dims , it becomes less bright. □ [V n] Dim the lighting–it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes. □ [V ] The houselights dimmed.
8 VERB If your future, hopes, or emotions dim or if something dims them, they become less good or less strong. □ [V ] Their economic prospects have dimmed. □ [V n] Forty eight years of marriage have not dimmed the passion between Bill and Helen.
9 VERB If your memories dim or if something dims them, they become less clear in your mind. □ [V ] Their memory of what happened has dimmed. □ [V n] The intervening years had dimmed his memory.
10 to take a dim view → see view
dime /da I m/ (dimes ) N‑COUNT A dime is an American coin worth ten cents.
di|men|sion /da I me nʃ ə n, d I m-/ (dimensions )
1 N‑COUNT A particular dimension of something is a particular aspect of it. □ There is a political dimension to the accusations. □ This adds a new dimension to our work.
2 N‑PLURAL If you talk about the dimensions of a situation or problem, you are talking about its extent and size. □ The dimensions of the market collapse were certainly not anticipated.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A dimension is a measurement such as length, width, or height. If you talk about the dimensions of an object or place, you are referring to its size and proportions. □ [+ of ] Drilling will continue on the site to assess the dimensions of the new oilfield.
4 → see also fourth dimension
di|men|sion|al /da I me nʃənəl, [AM ] d I m-/ → see two-dimensional , three-dimensional
di|min|ish /d I m I n I ʃ/ (diminishes , diminishing , diminished )