dilute
gb/daɪlˈut/ us/daɪlˈut/
B1
English
~ 8900
hígít, gyengít, felhígít, híg, felhígított, felhígult
VERB
B1
1
hígít
B1
Usage pattern:
to dilute [liquid/substance] with [liquid]
You should dilute the bleach with water before using it on the tiles.
Használat előtt vízzel kell hígítani a fehérítőt, mielőtt a csempén használod.
The syrup is very strong, so dilute it with cold water and ice.
A szörp nagyon tömény, ezért hígítsd hideg vízzel és jéggel.
Chemists often dilute an acid before handling it in the lab.
She diluted the paint so it would spread more smoothly on the wall.
The nurse diluted the medicine to make it safe for the child.
Learner examples
Please dilute the juice with some water.
Kérlek, hígítsd a gyümölcslevet egy kis vízzel.
The color is too dark; we need to dilute the paint.
Túl sötét a szín; hígítanunk kell a festéket.
They diluted the cleaning liquid before washing the floor.
You must dilute this strong chemical.
He diluted the sauce with milk because it was too salty.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"make water"* instead of *"dilute"*. For example, they might say *"Please make the juice water"* instead of *"Please dilute the juice with water"*. Also, they may confuse *"dilute"* (to make weaker) with *"dissolve"* (to make something solid mix into a liquid).
Meaning
make a liquid weaker by adding
Collocations
dilute with water
|dilute the solution
|dilute the paint
|dilute the juice
|dilute to half strength
|dilute the concentrate
Synonyms
water down (More informal; commonly used for drinks and sometimes figuratively.)
|
thin (General word for making a liquid less thick or strong; does not always imply adding another liquid.)
Antonyms
concentrate (Means to make a substance stronger or more dense by removing liquid or adding more of the active part.)
|
thicken (Focuses on making a liquid more dense or viscous, often by removing water or adding thickening agents.)
Themes
daily life
|science
|cooking
|food_drink
Definition
To make a drink or other liquid weaker by adding water or another liquid.
To make a liquid or mixture less strong or less concentrated, usually by adding more liquid such as water.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
to dilute [abstract noun]
Adding too many details will dilute the main message of your presentation.
Ha túl sok részletet adsz hozzá, az gyengíti a prezentációd fő üzenetét.
The latest changes dilute the original purpose of the law.
A legutóbbi módosítások gyengítik a törvény eredeti célját.
If we accept every request, it will dilute the value of the award.
The merger could dilute the company’s strong customer-focused culture.
Releasing so many versions of the product may dilute the brand.
Learner examples
Long explanations can dilute a simple message.
A hosszú magyarázatok gyengíthetik egy egyszerű üzenet erejét.
The new rules dilute the power of the workers’ union.
Az új szabályok gyengítik a dolgozói szakszervezet erejét.
Too many extra goals can dilute the main goal of the project.
They worry that low standards will dilute the quality of the course.
Many small changes slowly diluted his original idea.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse *"reduce"* or *"make weak"* and do not use *"dilute"* for abstract things like *"dilute the message"* or *"dilute the law"*. Also, they may try to use *"diluted"* as an adverb (e.g., *"They spoke diluted"*), which is incorrect; use *"in a diluted way"* or simply *"less strongly"*.
Meaning
make an effect or quality weaker
Collocations
dilute the message
|dilute the impact
|dilute the effect
|dilute the brand
|dilute the law
|dilute the power
Synonyms
weaken (Very close in meaning; more general and common for both physical and non-physical things.)
|
undermine (Suggests a gradual or secret weakening, often with a negative or harmful intention.)
Antonyms
strengthen (Means to make something more powerful, effective, or convincing, the opposite of making it weaker.)
|
reinforce (Emphasizes adding extra support or emphasis so that an idea or rule becomes stronger.)
Themes
communication
|politics
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make an idea, rule, or feeling less strong or clear.
To make the power, effect, quality, or purity of something less strong or less clear, especially an idea, rule, message, or feeling.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
felhígít
C1
Usage pattern:
to dilute [shareholders/ownership/equity]
The new share issue will dilute existing shareholders’ stakes in the company.
Az új részvénykibocsátás felhígítja a meglévő részvényesek részesedését a vállalatban.
Management insists that the stock options will not significantly dilute shareholder value.
A vezetőség állítja, hogy a részvényopciók nem hígítják fel jelentősen a részvényesi értéket.
The acquisition could dilute earnings in the short term.
Issuing additional equity now would dilute the founder’s control.
Investors are worried that another funding round will further dilute their holdings.
Learner examples
The company sold more shares and diluted the old shareholders.
A vállalat több részvényt adott el, és ezzel felhígította a régi részvényesek részesedését.
New stock options can dilute shareholder value.
Az új részvényopciók felhígíthatják a részvényesi értéket.
They do not want to dilute the founder’s ownership.
A large share issue may dilute each share’s value.
The investor asked if the deal would dilute his stake.
Common mistake:
Learners may understand only the physical meaning of *dilute* and misinterpret business news headlines like *"Share issue to dilute investors"*. In finance, *dilute* does not mean adding water; it means reducing the relative value or percentage owned. They may also wrongly say *"delete shareholders"* instead of *"dilute shareholders"* when talking about loss of ownership share.
Meaning
reduce shareholders’ ownership or value
Collocations
dilute shareholder value
|dilute existing shareholders
|dilute ownership
|dilute equity
|dilute control
|highly dilutive deal
Synonyms
erode (Stresses a gradual reduction in value or power, not necessarily by issuing shares.)
|
diminish (General word for making something smaller or less important; less specific than the financial term *dilute*.)
Antonyms
concentrate (In a corporate context, can mean to increase ownership or control in fewer hands, the opposite of dilution.)
|
enhance (To increase or improve value; the opposite effect on shareholder value compared to dilution.)
Themes
business
|finance
Definition
In business, to make each share of a company worth less or represent a smaller part of the company by creating more shares.
In finance, to reduce the value or ownership percentage of existing shares by increasing the total number of shares, for example by issuing new stock or options.
B2
TECHNICAL
4
híg
B1
Usage pattern:
a dilute [liquid/solution/acid/chemical]
Wear gloves when handling anything stronger than a very dilute acid.
Viselj kesztyűt, ha bármi olyannal dolgozol, ami egy nagyon híg savnál erősebb.
The sample was measured in a dilute solution of salt water.
A mintát híg sóoldatban mérték meg.
Use only a dilute bleach mixture to clean the surface.
The medicine should be given in a dilute form for children.
In this experiment, even a dilute sugar solution can affect the results.
Learner examples
The drink is very dilute and tastes like water.
Az ital nagyon híg, és olyan íze van, mint a víznek.
We used a dilute acid in the school lab.
Az iskolai laborban híg savat használtunk.
This is a dilute salt solution.
A dilute bleach mix is safer on clothes.
Scientists worked with a dilute chemical solution.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"light"* instead of *"dilute"* for technical descriptions, for example *"light acid"* instead of *"dilute acid"*. They may also confuse *"dilute"* (low concentration) with *"diluted"* (the past participle of the verb, often used similarly but grammatically different).
Meaning
low-strength or low-concentration liquid
Collocations
dilute solution
|dilute acid
|dilute bleach
|very dilute
|extremely dilute
|dilute mixture
Synonyms
weak (Common, everyday word; less precise for scientific contexts.)
|
thin (Informal for drinks or liquids that do not have much taste or substance; not commonly used in scientific writing.)
Antonyms
concentrated (Technical opposite; describes a solution with a high amount of solute.)
|
strong (Everyday opposite for drinks and solutions that have a lot of taste or active substance.)
Themes
science
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
Definition
Describes a liquid that is not very strong because it has a lot of water or other solvent in it.
Describes a liquid, solution, or chemical that has a low concentration of a substance, often after more solvent such as water has been added.
C1
5
felhígított
B2
felhígult
B2
Usage pattern:
a dilute [abstract noun/quality]
Critics say the reform is only a dilute version of what was promised.
A kritikusok szerint a reform csak felhígított változata annak, amit ígértek.
Many feared that rapid growth would lead to a more dilute company culture.
Sokan attól tartottak, hogy a gyors növekedés felhígultabb vállalati kultúrát eredményez.
The agreement represents a dilute form of democracy, with limited checks on power.
Some fans complained that the sequel felt like a dilute copy of the original film.
Over time, the festival became a more commercial, dilute version of its radical beginnings.
Learner examples
This is a dilute version of the original plan.
Ez az eredeti terv felhígított változata.
They worry about a dilute form of democracy in the country.
Aggódnak, hogy az országban a demokrácia felhígított formája jön létre.
The new show is a dilute copy of the old one.
He did not want a dilute brand image.
Fans felt they got a dilute experience of the band.
Common mistake:
Learners often choose only *"weak"* or *"small"* and do not use *"dilute"* for abstract qualities. They may also confuse the adjective *"dilute"* with the verb and say *"it dilute"* instead of *"it is dilute"* or *"it has been diluted"*.
Meaning
weakened or less pure form
Collocations
dilute version
|dilute form
|dilute brand
|dilute democracy
|dilute culture
|dilute identity
Synonyms
weakened (Very close in meaning; slightly more general and less technical-sounding.)
|
watered-down (Informal; strongly suggests something has been made less powerful or less pure than it should be.)
Antonyms
pure (Stresses that nothing has been added or changed; opposite of being diluted by other influences.)
|
intense (Opposite in terms of strength or impact of a quality or experience.)
Themes
business
|culture
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Describes something that is less strong or less pure than before, especially an idea, rule, or quality.
Describes something whose effect, quality, or character has been weakened or made less pure, focused, or intense.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dilute
IPA
GB/daɪlˈut/
US/daɪlˈut/
Syllables & stress
di - lute (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lute)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dilute
Verb
- Base: dilute
- 3rd Person Singular: dilutes
- Present Participle: diluting
- Past: diluted
Word family
Forms
dilutes
verb
diluting
verb
diluted
verb
Core family
dilution
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
undiluted
adjective
Advanced or less common
diluent
noun
Expressions
dilute shareholder value
1/daɪlˈut ʃˈɛɹhˌoʊldɚ vˈælju/
fixed phrase
technical
reduce the value of current shares
Make each share that people already own worth less by creating and selling more shares.
Examples
- Analysts warn that the new stock issue could dilute shareholder value.
- The company says the acquisition will not dilute shareholder value in the long term.
- Issuing so many new shares at a discount is likely to dilute shareholder value.
dilute to taste
1/daɪlˈut tə tˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
weaken drink until it tastes right
Add water or another liquid to a drink until the taste is the way you like it.
Examples
- The cordial is very sweet, so dilute to taste before serving.
- You can dilute to taste with sparkling water or soda.
- This juice is a concentrate; just dilute to taste and chill.
dilute with water
1/daɪlˈut wˈɪθ wˈɔtɚ/
fixed phrase
reduce strength by adding water
Add water to something, like juice or a chemical, to make it less strong.
Examples
- Always dilute with water before giving this medicine to children.
- The cleaner is very strong, so you should dilute with water first.
- For a lighter taste, dilute with water and serve over ice.