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minimize

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
min·i·mize  (mn-mz)
tr.v. min·i·mized, min·i·miz·ing, min·i·miz·es
1.
a. To reduce to the smallest possible amount, extent, size, or degree.
b. Usage Problem To reduce. See Usage Note at minimal.
2. To represent as having the least degree of importance, value, or size: minimized the magnitude of the crisis. See Synonyms at decry.

[From minimum.]

mini·mi·zation (-m-zshn) n.
mini·mizer n.

minimize or -mise
Verb
[-mizing, -mized] or -mising, -mised
1. to reduce to the lowest possible degree or amount: these measures should help minimize our costs
2. to regard or treat as less important than it really is; belittle: I don't want to minimize the importance of her contribution

A condition wherein normal message and telephone traffic is drastically reduced in order that messages connected with an actual or simulated emergency shall not be delayed.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.minimize - make small or insignificant; "Let's minimize the risk"
hedge - minimize loss or risk; "diversify your financial portfolio to hedge price risks"; "hedge your bets"
minify, decrease, lessen - make smaller; "He decreased his staff"
maximize, maximise - make as big or large as possible; "Maximize your profits!"
2.minimize - represent as less significant or important
inform - impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights"
trivialise, trivialize - make trivial or insignificant; "Don't trivialize the seriousness of the issue!"
3.minimize - cause to seem less serious; play down; "Don't belittle his influence"
disparage, belittle, pick at - express a negative opinion of; "She disparaged her student's efforts"
talk down - belittle through talk

minimize
verb 2. play down, discount, underestimate, belittle, disparage, decry, underrate, deprecate, depreciate, make light or little of << OPPOSITE praise
Translations
minimize [ˈmɪnɪmaɪz] vtminimizar
minimize [ˈmɪnɪmaɪz] vt (= reduce) → réduire au minimum (= play down); minimiser
minimize [ˈmɪnɪmaɪz] vtauf ein Minimum reduzieren;
(play down) → herunterspielen
minimize [ˈmɪnɪmaɪz] vtminimizzare


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
said Pierre, feeling it necessary to minimize his social position as much as possible so as to be nearer to the soldiers and better understood by them.
Many are the enactments made at different times in the different States of Flatland, in order to minimize this peril; and in the Southern and less temperate climates where the force of gravitation is greater, and human beings more liable to casual and involuntary motions, the Laws concerning Women are naturally much more stringent.
The taking of a modern steamship about the world (though one would not minimize its responsibilities) has not the same quality of intimacy with nature, which, after all, is an indispensable condition to the building up of an art.
 
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