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Dwarf vs Dwindle - What's the difference?

dwarf | dwindle |

In lang=en terms the difference between dwarf and dwindle

is that dwarf is to become (much) smaller while dwindle is to decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size.

As verbs the difference between dwarf and dwindle

is that dwarf is to render (much) smaller, turn into a dwarf (version) while dwindle is to decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size.

As a noun dwarf

is (mythology) any member of a race of beings from (especially scandinavian and other germanic) folklore, usually depicted as having some sort of supernatural powers and being skilled in crafting and metalworking, often depicted as short, and sometimes depicted as clashing with elves.

As an adjective dwarf

is .

dwarf

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (mythology) Any member of a race of beings from (especially Scandinavian and other Germanic) folklore, usually depicted as having some sort of supernatural powers and being skilled in crafting and metalworking, often depicted as short, and sometimes depicted as clashing with elves.
  • A person of short stature, often one whose limbs are disproportionately small in relation to the body as compared with normal adults, usually as the result of a genetic condition.
  • An animal, plant or other thing much smaller than the usual of its sort.
    • dwarf''' tree; '''dwarf honeysuckle
  • (star) A star of relatively small size.

    • Usage notes

    At first, dwarfs'' was the more common plural in English. After used ''dwarves'', it began to rise in popularity, and is now about as common as ''dwarfs .

    Synonyms

    * (person) midget, pygmy (imprecise)

    Antonyms

    * giant * ettin

    Derived terms

    (term derived from dwarf) * dwarf star * black dwarf * brown dwarf * red dwarf * white dwarf * dwarfen, dwarven * dwarfess * dwarfify * dwarfism * dwarfish, dwarvish * dwarfling * dwarfness

    Adjective

    (-)
  • .
    • The specimen is a very dwarf form of the plant.
    It is possible to grow the plants as dwarf as one desires.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To render (much) smaller, turn into a dwarf (version).
  • To make appear (much) smaller, puny, tiny.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author=Kevin Heng
    • , title= Why Does Nature Form Exoplanets Easily? , volume=101, issue=3, page=184, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=In the past two years, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has located nearly 3,000 exoplanet candidates ranging from sub-Earth-sized minions to gas giants that dwarf our own Jupiter.}}
  • To make appear insignificant.
  • To become (much) smaller.
  • To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt.
    • (Addison)
  • * J. C. Shairp
    • Even the most common moral ideas and affections would be stunted and dwarfed , if cut off from a spiritual background.

    Synonyms

    * (make much smaller) miniaturize, shrink * (become much smaller) shrink

    dwindle

    English

    Verb

    (dwindl)
  • To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size.
  • * 1802 , , translated by T. Paynell,
    • [E]very thing that was improving gradually degenerates and dwindles away to nothing,
  • (figuratively) To fall away in quality; degenerate, sink.
    • The flattery of his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation.'' (''Goldsmith , Vicar, III)
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious clubs.
  • * 1919 ,
    • The larger the empire, the more dwindles the mind of the citizen.
  • * '>citation
  • To lessen; to bring low.
  • * Thomson
    • Our drooping days are dwindled down to naught.
  • To break; to disperse.
    • (Clarendon)

    References