释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024dwarf /dwɔrf/USA pronunciation n., pl. dwarfs, dwarves /dwɔrvz/USA pronunciation adj., v. n. [countable] - Pathologya person of abnormally small size.
- Botany, Zoologyan animal or plant much smaller than the average.
- Mythologya small, imaginary being, often represented as a tiny old man, who is skilled as a worker and has magical powers.
adj. [before a noun] - of unusually small stature or size:dwarf marigolds.
v. [~ + object] - to cause to seem small in size, etc., as by being much larger:This current budget crisis dwarfs all our previous troubles.
dwarf•ish, adj. dwarf•ism, n. [uncountable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024dwarf (dwôrf ),USA pronunciation n., pl. dwarfs, dwarves, adj., v. n. - Pathologya person of abnormally small stature owing to a pathological condition, esp. one suffering from cretinism or some other disease that produces disproportion or deformation of features and limbs.
- Botany, Zoologyan animal or plant much smaller than the average of its kind or species.
- Mythology(in folklore) a being in the form of a small, often misshapen and ugly, man, usually having magic powers.
- AstronomySee dwarf star.
adj. - of unusually small stature or size;
diminutive. v.t. - to cause to appear or seem small in size, extent, character, etc., as by being much larger or better:He dwarfed all his rivals in athletic ability.
- to make dwarf or dwarfish;
prevent the due development of. v.i. - to become stunted or smaller.
- bef. 900; Middle English dwerf, Old English dweorh; replacing Middle English dwerg, Old English dweorg; cognate with Old High German twerg, Old Norse dvergr
dwarf′like′, adj. dwarf′ness, n. - 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Dwarf, midget, pygmy are terms for a very small person. A dwarf is someone checked in growth or stunted, or in some way not normally formed. A midget (not in technical use) is someone perfect in form and normal in function, but diminutive. A pygmy is properly a member of one of certain small-sized peoples of Africa and Asia, but the word is often used imprecisely to mean dwarf or midget. Dwarf is a term often used to describe very small plants. Pygmy is used to describe very small animals.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged runt, miniature.
- 1, 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged giant.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: dwarf /dwɔːf/ n ( pl dwarfs, dwarves /dwɔːvz/)- an abnormally undersized person, esp one with a large head and short arms and legs
- an animal or plant much below the average height for the species
- (as modifier): a dwarf tree
- (in folklore) a small ugly manlike creature, often possessing magical powers
- short for dwarf star
vb - to become or cause to become comparatively small in size, importance, etc
- (transitive) to stunt the growth of
Etymology: Old English dweorg; related to Old Norse dvergr, Old High German twercˈdwarfish adj |