WordGarden.iodilution
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /daɪlˈuːʃən/
US
- /daɪˈluʃən/
Meanings
Noun
the process or result of making a liquid or mixture less concentrated
a weakening or reduction in strength, quality, impact, or influence
a reduction in existing shareholders' ownership or per-share value when more shares are issued
More meaningsFewer meanings
the weakening of a brand or trademark's distinctiveness
Beyond the definition
Imagine making orange juice from concentrate. You add water—that's dilution! It is the process of making something weaker or less concentrated by adding more liquid, like water. But it doesn't just apply to juice. Dilution can also describe weakening an argument or lessening the impact of something important. A politician might try to dilute a controversial policy by making small changes to calm critics. Think of spreading a small amount of butter too thinly over a large piece of toast; the flavor becomes less intense. That is the essence of dilution in action.
Dilution is more than just adding water to juice; it's about reducing the concentration of a substance within another. Originally, the word came from the Latin diluere, meaning "to wash away" or "to lessen." Think of a vibrant dye slowly fading as you add more and more water—that's dilution at work.
In chemistry, dilution is a precise process: it refers to adding a solvent (like water) to a solution to lower the concentration of the solute (the substance being dissolved). A strong acid might be diluted before use to make it safer to handle. But the concept extends far beyond the laboratory.
Figuratively, dilution involves weakening the intensity of an idea, a feeling, or even power. If a leader tries to please everyone, their central message can become diluted and lose its punch. In the financial world, "share dilution" occurs when a company issues new stock, which reduces the ownership percentage of existing shareholders—effectively "watering down" their individual stake in the company.
Sometimes, dilution is a deliberate and helpful strategy—like diluting a potent medicine to make it suitable for children, or tempering a harsh criticism with praise to make the feedback easier to swallow. Whether in a beaker, a boardroom, or your own emotional landscape, dilution is the act of lessening strength, concentration, or impact by adding something else into the mix.
Examples
- 1
Cleaning ratio
The label says to use a 1:10 dilution of the cleaning solution.
- 2
Drinks
Too much ice causes a noticeable dilution of the drink.
- 3
Political influence
Small parties complained that the new voting system would lead to a dilution of their influence.
- Patterndilution of + influence/message/strength
making it weaker or less effective
- 4
Brand marketing
Luxury brands are careful about heavy discounting because it can cause brand dilution.
- Domainbrand dilution
when a brand becomes less special or less distinct
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public message
By the time the news reached the public, there had been some dilution of the original message.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- dilution ratio
- serial dilution
- stock dilution
- brand dilution
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- dilutionnoun
Forms
- dilutionspluralnoun