dent1

[dent] /dɛnt/
noun
1.
a hollow or depression in a surface, as from a blow.
2.
a noticeable effect, especially of reduction:
to leave a dent in one's savings; a dent in one's pride.
verb (used with object)
3.
to make a dent in or on; indent:
The impact dented the car's fender.
4.
to have the effect of reducing or slightly injuring:
The caustic remark dented his ego.
verb (used without object)
5.
to show dents; become indented:
Tin dents more easily than steel.
6.
to sink in, making a dent:
Nails dent into metal.
Idioms
7.
make a dent, Informal. to cause a person to take heed; make an impression:
The doctor told him to stop smoking, but it didn't make a dent.
8.
make a dent in, to show initial progress; pass an initial stage of (work, thought, solving a problem, etc.):
I haven't even made a dent in this pile of work.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English dente, variant of dint
Related forms
undented, adjective

dent2

[dent] /dɛnt/
noun
1.
a toothlike projection, as a tooth of a gearwheel.
2.
Textiles. the space between two wires through which the warp ends are drawn in the reed of a loom.
Origin
1545-55; < Middle French < Latin dent- (stem of dēns) tooth

dent-

1.
variant of denti- before a vowel:
dentin.

dent.

1.
2.
3.
Examples from the web for dent
  • dent broke the buckle on the net with one of his monster serves and then helped consult on the repair job.
  • All of these will make you a more productive researcher and will also make a dent in that research budget.
  • The infrastructure needed to make a large dent in the world's emissions is daunting.
  • In those days, that number scarcely made a dent in the large grizzly population.
  • In protostomes, the first little dent becomes the organism's mouth.
  • Some of their agaves looked the worse for it but some made it through without a dent.
  • Taking aim at bullets could put dent in growing gun violence.
  • Seeds that will barely dent when bitten are sufficiently dry.
  • Its mineral crystal is recessed to dodge blows, and the screw-down crown is offset to four o'clock so it won't dent your wrist.
  • The criticism is having an effect, and the curtailment of entertainment visas will dent the problem.
British Dictionary definitions for dent

dent1

/dɛnt/
noun
1.
a hollow or dip in a surface, as one made by pressure or a blow
2.
an appreciable effect, esp of lessening: a dent in our resources
verb
3.
to impress or be impressed with a dent or dents
Word Origin
C13 (in the sense: a stroke, blow): variant of dint

dent2

/dɛnt/
noun
1.
a toothlike protuberance, esp the tooth of a sprocket or gearwheel
2.
(textiles) the space between two wires in a loom through which a warp thread is drawn
Word Origin
C16: from French: tooth

dent.

abbreviation
1.
dental
2.
dentistry
Word Origin and History for dent
n.

early 14c., "a strike or blow," dialectal variant of Middle English dint (q.v.); sense of "indentation" first recorded 1560s, apparently influenced by indent.

v.

late 14c., from dent (n.). Related: Dented; denting.

dent in Medicine

dent- pref.
Variant of denti-.

Related Abbreviations for dent

dent.

  1. dental
  2. dentist
  3. dentistry
Idioms and Phrases with dent

dent