minimize

minimize
[[t]mɪ̱nɪmaɪz[/t]]
minimizes, minimizing, minimized
(in BRIT, also use minimise)
1) VERB If you minimize a risk, problem, or unpleasant situation, you reduce it to the lowest possible level, or prevent it increasing beyond that level.

[V n] Concerned people want to minimize the risk of developing cancer...

[V n] Many of these problems can be minimised by sensible planning.

Syn:
Ant:
2) VERB If you minimize something, you make it seem smaller or less significant than it really is.

[V n] Some have minimized the importance of ideological factors...

[V n] At his trial, he tried to minimize his behavior.

Syn:
Ant:
3) VERB If you minimize a window on a computer screen, you make it very small, because you do not want to use it.

[V n] Click the square icon again to minimize the window.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • minimize — min‧i‧mize [ˈmɪnmaɪz] also minimise verb [transitive] 1. to make something as small as possible: • Investing in unit trusts minimises the risks if stock markets fall. • We need to minimize our transport …   Financial and business terms

  • minimize — I verb abbreviate, abridge, attach little importance to, attenuate, bedwarf, belittle, cheapen, clip, criticize, curtail, cut down, cut down to size, cut short decimate, decrease, decry, deduct, deflate, degrade, demote, depreciate, derogate,… …   Law dictionary

  • minimize — min i*mize (m[i^]n [i^]*m[imac]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {minimized} (m[i^]n [i^]*m[imac]zd); p. pr. & vb. n. {minimizing} (m[i^]n [i^]*m[imac]*z[i^]ng).] 1. To reduce to the smallest part or proportion possible; to reduce to a minimum. Bentham.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • minimize — (v.) 1802, first recorded in Bentham; see MINIMUM (Cf. minimum) + IZE (Cf. ize) …   Etymology dictionary

  • minimize — (Amer.) min·i·mize || mɪnɪmaɪz v. make small, reduce; reduce as much as possible; make less important; play down; (Computers) make a window smaller to the point that only an icon remains in its place (also minimise) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • minimize — depreciate, *decry, belittle, disparage, derogate, detract Antonyms: magnify Contrasted words: aggrandize, *exalt: extol, eulogize, acclaim, laud, *praise …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • minimize — [v] make smaller; underrate abbreviate, attenuate, belittle, cheapen, curtail, cut down to size, cut rate, decrease, decry, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, downplay*, dwarf*, knock*, knock down*, lessen,… …   New thesaurus

  • minimize — (also minimise) ► VERB 1) reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree. 2) represent or estimate at less than the true value. DERIVATIVES minimization noun minimizer noun …   English terms dictionary

  • minimize — [min′i mīz΄] vt. minimized, minimizing 1. to reduce to a minimum; decrease to the least possible amount, degree, etc. 2. to estimate or make appear to be of the least possible amount, value, or importance SYN. DISPARAGE minimization n. minimizer… …   English World dictionary

  • minimize — 01. The government is trying to [minimize] the damage caused by the scandal. 02. Eating properly and getting plenty of exercise will help you to [minimize] the risk of a heart attack. 03. If the experiments are set up properly, you can [minimize] …   Grammatical examples in English

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