| / English Dictionary |
WEAKENING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of reducing the strength of something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("weakening" is a kind of...):
decrease; diminution; reduction; step-down (the act of decreasing or reducing something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "weakening"):
wilt; wilting (causing to become limp or drooping)
dilution (weakening (reducing the concentration) by the addition of water or a thinner)
etiolation (the act of weakening by stunting the growth or development of something)
Antonym:
strengthening (the act of increasing the strength of something)
Derivation:
weaken (lessen the strength of)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Becoming weaker
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("weakening" is a kind of...):
shift; transformation; transmutation (a qualitative change)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "weakening"):
debilitation; enervation; enfeeblement; exhaustion (serious weakening and loss of energy)
atrophy; withering (any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use))
attenuation; fading (weakening in force or intensity)
downfall; fall (a sudden decline in strength or number or importance)
loosening; relaxation; slackening (an occurrence of control or strength weakening)
Antonym:
strengthening (becoming stronger)
Derivation:
weaken (become weaker)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Moderating by making pain or sorrow weaker
Classified under:
Similar:
moderating (lessening in intensity or strength)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Causing debilitation
Synonyms:
debilitative; enervating; enfeebling; weakening
Classified under:
Similar:
debilitating (impairing the strength and vitality)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb weaken
Context examples:
This inactivation results in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and eventually causes cell lysis.
(Imipenem, NCI Thesaurus)
This results in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and eventually causes cell lysis.
(Hetacillin, NCI Thesaurus)
Ceftazidime binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), enzymes located on the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall, resulting in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and cell lysis.
(Ceftazidime Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)
This results in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and causes cell lysis.
(Cefaclor, NCI Thesaurus)
Caspofungin inhibits 1,3-beta-glucan synthase, resulting in decreased synthesis of beta(1,3)-D-glucan (an essential component of the fungal cell wall), weakening of the fungal cell wall, and fungal cell wall rupture.
(Caspofungin, NCI Thesaurus)
Penicillin G binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), enzymes located on the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall, resulting in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and cell lysis.
(Benethamine Penicillin, NCI Thesaurus)
Device problems due to the weakening or breakdown of its material when subjected to stress or a series of repeated stresses.
(Device Fatigue Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)
Piperacillin binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), enzymes located on the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall, resulting in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and cell lysis.
(Piperacillin Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)
This interrupts the final stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis and results in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and eventually causing cell lysis.
(Mezlocillin, NCI Thesaurus)
A weakening, shrinking, and loss of muscle caused by disease or lack of use.
(Muscle Atrophy, NCI Dictionary)
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