/dɪ'mɪnɪʃ; də`mɪnɪʃ/
v [I, Tn]
1 (cause sth to) become smaller or less; decrease 变小; 变少; 使（某事物）变小; 使（某事物）变少; 缩小; 减少; 降低
*His strength has diminished over the years. 经过这许多年月, 他的体力不如从前了.
* Nothing could diminish her enthusiasm for the project. 什么也不能影响她对这项计划的热忱.
* diminishing hopes, supplies, funds 逐渐渺茫的希望、渐渐用完的物资、渐渐枯竭的资金.
2 (fig 比喻) make (sb/sth) seem less important than it really is; devalue 减低（某人[某事物]的重要性; 贬低
*The opposition are trying to diminish our achievements. 反对党企图贬低我们的成就.
3 (music 音) decrease (an interval) by a semitone 将（音程）减半音
*a diminished seventh 减七度.

v
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: diminue (14-16 centuries), from Old French diminuer, from Latin minuere 'to make less']
[I and T]
to become or make something become smaller or less
= reduce
　The party's share of the electorate has diminished steadily.
　These drugs diminish blood flow to the brain.
[T]
to deliberately make someone or something appear less important or valuable than they really are
　Don't let him diminish your achievements.
　But that's not to diminish the importance of his discoveries.
diminishing returns
when the profits or advantages you are getting from something stop increasing in relation to the effort you are making