minimise
gb/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz/ us/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz/
B1
English
minimálisra csökkent, minimalizál, bagatellizál, kis méretűre állít
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
minimise [something]
We changed the schedule to minimise disruption to customers.
Módosítottuk az ütemtervet, hogy minimálisra csökkentsük az ügyfeleket érő fennakadásokat.
The new packaging is designed to minimise waste.
Az új csomagolást úgy alakították ki, hogy minimálisra csökkentse a hulladék mennyiségét.
Try to minimise screen time before bed to sleep better.
Learner examples
We want to minimise costs.
Minimálisra szeretnénk csökkenteni a költségeket.
Close the door to minimise noise.
Csukd be az ajtót, hogy minimálisra csökkentsük a zajt.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse British spelling minimise with American spelling minimize. Also, minimise is usually followed by a noun (minimise costs), not an adjective (not *minimise small*).
Meaning
reduce to the smallest amount
Collocations
minimise risk
|minimise the impact
|minimise costs
|minimise damage
|minimise losses
|minimise disruption
|minimise harm
|minimise side effects
|minimise waste
|minimise errors
Synonyms
reduce (More general and common; not always as strong as ‘to the minimum’.)
|
cut (More informal; often implies an active effort to lower something.)
|
limit (Emphasises keeping something within a boundary, not necessarily the smallest possible.)
Antonyms
maximise (Means to make something as large or great as possible.)
|
increase (Means to make something larger or greater, without implying ‘as large as possible’.)
Themes
daily_life
|business
|health
|risk
Definition
to make something as small or low as possible
To make something as small, low, or slight as possible; to reduce something to the minimum.
VERB
C1
2
bagatellizál
B2
Usage pattern:
minimise [problem/concern/role] | minimise how/what/why ...
He tried to minimise the damage by calling it a ‘small mistake’.
Azzal próbálta bagatellizálni a kárt, hogy „apró hibának” nevezte.
The company was accused of minimising the seriousness of the leak.
A vállalatot azzal vádolták, hogy bagatellizálta a szivárgás súlyosságát.
Don’t minimise her concerns—listen to what she’s saying.
Learner examples
He minimised the problem.
Bagatellizálta a problémát.
Please don’t minimise my feelings.
Kérlek, ne bagatellizáld az érzéseimet.
Common mistake:
Don’t use minimise when you mean ‘solve’ (minimise a problem = make it seem smaller, not fix it).
Meaning
downplay the importance of something
Collocations
minimise concerns
|minimise the problem
|minimise the seriousness
|minimise the risks
|minimise your role
|minimise the consequences
|minimise the issue
|minimise criticism
Synonyms
play down (Very close in meaning; often used in speaking and journalism.)
|
downplay (Direct synonym; common in formal and media contexts.)
|
understate (Focuses on saying less than the truth, often deliberately or politely.)
Antonyms
exaggerate (Means to make something seem bigger or worse than it is.)
|
emphasise (Means to give something special importance or attention.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|news_media
Definition
to say something is not very important or serious
To make something seem less important, serious, or bad than it really is; to play something down.
VERB
B1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
minimise [window/app]
Click here to minimise the window without closing the program.
Kattintson ide, ha az ablakot a program bezárása nélkül szeretné kis méretűre állítani.
I minimised the chat app while I was presenting my screen.
Képernyőmegosztás közben minimalizáltam a csevegőalkalmazást.
If you minimise it, you can find it again on the taskbar.
Learner examples
Minimise the window, please.
Állítsd kis méretűre az ablakot, kérlek.
I minimised the browser.
Minimalizáltam a böngészőt.
Common mistake:
Minimise is different from close/quit: minimising keeps the program running. Also different from maximise (make bigger).
Meaning
make a window smaller on screen
Collocations
minimise the window
|minimise a tab
|minimise the app
|minimise to the taskbar
|minimise to the dock
|minimise all windows
|minimise the browser
|minimise a dialog box
Synonyms
iconify (More technical; common in older or specialist computing contexts.)
|
hide (Broader; may fully hide an app rather than just minimising its window.)
Antonyms
maximise (Makes a window as large as possible on the screen.)
|
restore (Brings a minimised window back to its previous size.)
Themes
technology
|computing
Definition
to make a computer window smaller so it is not shown
In computing, to reduce an on-screen window so it is no longer fully visible, usually turning it into an icon or a small bar on the taskbar or dock.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
minimalizál
C1
Usage pattern:
minimise [function/cost/energy/error] | minimise [something] subject to [constraint]
The algorithm is designed to minimise error across the dataset.
Az algoritmust úgy tervezték, hogy a teljes adathalmazon minimalizálja a hibát.
We minimise a cost function to find the best model parameters.
A legjobb modellparaméterek megtalálásához egy költségfüggvényt minimalizálunk.
The design aims to minimise energy use while maintaining performance.
Meaning
find the smallest possible value
Collocations
minimise a function
|minimise the cost
|minimise the error
|minimise energy
|minimise variance
|minimise the objective
|minimise under constraints
|minimise loss
Synonyms
optimise (Means to make something as good as possible; minimising is one specific kind of optimisation.)
|
reduce (Less precise; does not necessarily imply reaching a mathematical minimum.)
Antonyms
maximise (In optimisation, means to make an objective as large as possible.)
Themes
education
|math
|science
|engineering
Definition
to find the smallest possible value
In mathematics, science, or engineering, to make a quantity as small as possible by choosing the best option, or to find the minimum value of a function.
Grammar
Dictionary form
minimise
IPA
GB/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz/
US/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
min - im - ise (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (min)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: minimise
- 3rd Person Singular: minimises
- Present Participle: minimising
- Past: minimised
Word family
Forms
minimises
verb
minimising
verb
minimised
verb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
maximise
verb
maximum
noun/adjective A2
Advanced or less common
minimalism
noun
minimalist
noun/adjective
Expressions
minimise the damage
1/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz ðə dˈæmɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
limit harm after something goes wrong
to stop a problem becoming worse
Examples
- The company apologised quickly to minimise the damage to its reputation.
- He admitted the mistake to minimise the damage.
- Emergency crews acted fast to minimise the damage from the flood.
Learner examples
- Say sorry to minimise the damage.
minimise the impact (of [something])
1/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz ðə ˈɪmpækt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
reduce how much something affects
to make the effect smaller
Examples
- The team worked overnight to minimise the impact on customers.
- New rules were introduced to minimise the impact of pollution on local wildlife.
- We’ll stagger the rollout to minimise the impact on operations.
Learner examples
- We want to minimise the impact on students.
minimise the risk of [something]
1/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz ðə ɹˈɪsk əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
reduce the chance of something
to make something less likely to happen
Examples
- Wear a helmet to minimise the risk of head injury.
- They diversified their investments to minimise the risk of large losses.
- We double-check the figures to minimise the risk of mistakes.
Learner examples
- Wash your hands to minimise the risk of getting sick.
minimise to the taskbar
1/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz tə ðə tˈæskbɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
send a window to the taskbar
to hide a window in the taskbar
Examples
- Minimise the window to the taskbar and open the spreadsheet.
- If it disappears, it’s probably just minimised to the taskbar.
- He minimised the video call to the taskbar while he checked his notes.
Learner examples
- I minimised it to the taskbar.
minimise your carbon footprint
1/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz jˈʊɹ kˈɑɹbən fˈʊtpɹˌɪnt/
fixed phrase
reduce your environmental impact
to make your pollution less
Examples
- She cycles to work to minimise her carbon footprint.
- To minimise your carbon footprint, cut down on flights when possible.
- They installed better insulation to minimise their carbon footprint.
Learner examples
- I take the train to minimise my carbon footprint.
minimise your losses
1/mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz jˈʊɹ lˈɔsɪz/
fixed phrase
business
reduce how much you lose
to lose as little as possible
Examples
- They sold the stock quickly to minimise their losses.
- A clear exit plan can help you minimise your losses.
- We paused the project to minimise our losses while we reviewed the budget.
Learner examples
- Stop now to minimise your losses.