dim

[dim] /dɪm/
adjective, dimmer, dimmest.
1.
not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light:
a dim room; a dim flashlight.
2.
not seen clearly or in detail; indistinct:
a dim object in the distance.
3.
not clear to the mind; vague:
a dim idea.
4.
not brilliant; dull in luster:
a dim color.
5.
not clear or distinct to the senses; faint:
a dim sound.
6.
not seeing clearly:
eyes dim with tears.
7.
tending to be unfavorable; not likely to happen, succeed, be favorable, etc.:
a dim chance of winning.
8.
not understanding clearly.
9.
rather stupid; dim-witted.
verb (used with object), dimmed, dimming.
10.
to make dim or dimmer.
11.
to switch (the headlights of a vehicle) from the high to the low beam.
verb (used without object), dimmed, dimming.
12.
to become or grow dim or dimmer.
Verb phrases
13.
dim out, (in wartime) to reduce the night illumination of (a city, ship, etc.) to make it less visible from the air or sea, as a protection from enemy aircraft or ships.
Idioms
14.
take a dim view of, to regard with disapproval, skepticism, or dismay:
Her mother takes a dim view of her choice of friends.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English, Old English dim(me), cognate with Old Frisian dim, Old Norse dimmr
Related forms
dimly, adverb
dimmable, adjective
dimness, noun
undim, adjective
undimly, adverb
undimmed, adjective
Synonyms
1. See dark. 3. unclear, faint, indefinite, indistinct, fuzzy, hazy. 10. darken, cloud. 12. dull, fade.
British Dictionary definitions for take a dim view of

dim

/dɪm/
adjective dimmer, dimmest
1.
badly illuminated: a dim room
2.
not clearly seen; indistinct; faint: a dim shape
3.
having weak or indistinct vision: eyes dim with tears
4.
lacking in understanding; mentally dull
5.
not clear in the mind; obscure: a dim memory
6.
lacking in brilliance, brightness, or lustre: a dim colour
7.
tending to be unfavourable; gloomy or disapproving (esp in the phrase take a dim view)
verb dims, dimming, dimmed
8.
to become or cause to become dim
9.
(transitive) to cause to seem less bright, as by comparison
10.
(US & Canadian) (transitive) to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam Also called (in Britain and certain other countries) dip
Derived Forms
dimly, adverb
dimness, noun
Word Origin
Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark
Word Origin and History for take a dim view of

dim

adj.

Old English dimm "dark, gloomy, obscure," from Proto-Germanic *dimbaz (cf. Old Norse dimmr, Old Frisian dim, Old High German timber "dark, black, somber"). Not known outside Germanic. Slang sense of "stupid" is from 1892. Related: Dimly; dimness.

v.

c.1200, perhaps in Old English, from dim (adj.). Related: Dimmed; dimming.

Slang definitions & phrases for take a dim view of

take a dim view of

verb phrase

To regard as not especially hopeful, delightful, etc; greet with less than buoyant enthusiasm: Her parents take a decidedly dim view of me (1941+)


dim

adjective

Stupid; uncomprehending: Anybody who pays to watch these teams has to be considered just a bit dim (1892+)


Idioms and Phrases with take a dim view of

take a dim view of

Regard disapprovingly, as in I take a dim view of meeting every single week. This idiom, which uses dim in the sense of “unfavorable,” was first recorded in 1947

dim

see: take a dim view