Dwarf



GRE TOEFL 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 侏儒, 矮小的植物; 使变矮小
• ［英］ 侏儒, 矮小的植物 ( any human being, animal, or plant that is much smaller than the usual one of its species)
• ［例］ a dwarf apple tree / the art of dwarfing trees.

Webster Collegiate

I. noun (plural dwarfs; also dwarves)

• Usage: often attributive
• Etymology: Middle English dwerg, dwerf, from Old English dweorg, dweorh; akin to Old High German twerg dwarf
• Date: before 12th century
• 1.
  • a. a person of unusually small stature; especially one whose bodily proportions are abnormal
  • b. an insignificant person <a literary dwarf>
• 2. an animal or plant much below normal size
• 3. a small legendary manlike being who is usually misshapen and ugly and skilled as a craftsman
• 4. a star (as the sun) of ordinary or low luminosity and relatively small mass and size
• ? dwarfish adjective
• ? dwarfishly adverb
• ? dwarfishness noun
• ? dwarflike adjective
• ? dwarfness noun

II. verb

• Date: circa 1626
• transitive verb
  • 1. to restrict the growth of ; stunt
  • 2. to cause to appear smaller or to seem inferior <has dwarfed the achievements of her predecessors>
• intransitive verb
  • to become smaller

III. adjective

• Date: 1597
• of a plant low-growing in habit <dwarfer forms of citrus>

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