dilute

dilute — 動詞

1. to add a liquid such as water to another liquid so that the resulting mixture is

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

稀釋

加入液體降低濃度

to add a liquid such as water to another liquid so that the resulting mixture is less thick, strong, or concentrated than it was before

例句

Ari diluted the orange juice with sparkling water to make it less sweet.

Ari 把柳橙汁加氣泡水稀釋，讓它不那麼甜。

dilute [liquid] with [liquid] for reducing concentration

The lab technician diluted the acid before adding it to the sample.

實驗室技術員先把酸稀釋後才加入樣本中。

同義詞
  • thin

    more informal, mainly used in cooking and paint contexts

  • water down

    phrasal verb, more informal, often suggests making something too weak

  • weaken

    broader in meaning, can apply to non-liquids as well

反義詞
  • concentrate

    the opposite process of reducing the liquid while keeping the substance

  • strengthen

    general opposite, less technical

文法句型

dilute + noun phrase + with + noun phrase

用法筆記

The object is always a liquid or substance that can be mixed. Common prepositions are 'with' (what you add) and 'in' (the medium used for diluting).

常見錯誤

❌I diluted the soup with too much salt.
✅I diluted the soup with too much water.
💡dilute works when a liquid is added to a liquid, not for adding solid ingredients.
❌She diluted the milk by leaving it in the sun.
✅She diluted the milk by adding water to it.
💡dilute requires the addition of another substance, not a natural change over time.

2. to reduce the power, effect, or importance of something such as a belief, opinio

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

削弱；沖淡

減弱效果或影響

to reduce the power, effect, or importance of something such as a belief, opinion, message, or quality, often by adding too many different elements to it

例句

Rachel felt that adding more staff diluted the quality of the training program.

Rachel 認為增加人力反而削弱了培訓計畫的品質。

The company's strong message was diluted by too many different advertisements.

那家公司的強烈訴求被過多不同的廣告沖淡了。

passive: be diluted by [something] for weakened impact

同義詞
  • weaken

    broader and more common; does not imply a mixing process

  • water down

    informal and more negative; suggests deliberate weakening

  • diminish

    more formal; suggests gradual loss in value or importance

反義詞
  • strengthen

    direct opposite in figurative sense

  • reinforce

    implies adding support rather than restoring original strength

文法句型

dilute + abstract noun phrase

be diluted + by + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice (be diluted by) when something abstract loses its strength. Subject is typically an abstract noun such as 'message', 'values', 'quality', 'impact', or 'enthusiasm'.

常見錯誤

❌The loud music diluted my ability to think.
✅The loud music weakened my ability to think.
💡dilute is not used for external distractions; it describes a mixture where something is added, not just any reduction in ability.
❌His fear was diluted when the lights came on.
✅His fear was reduced when the lights came on.
💡dilute is not used for emotional relief caused by a change in circumstances.

dilute — 形容詞