dim

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++dim1 /dɪm/ ●○○ adjective (comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest)  1  dark 暗的DARK fairly dark or not giving much light, so that you cannot see well 阴暗的，昏暗的 OPP bright in the dim light of the early dawn 在微弱的晨曦里 a dim glow 昏暗的微光► see thesaurus at dark2  shape 形状CF a dim shape is one which is not easy to see because it is too far away, or there is not enough light 朦胧的，隐约的 The dim outline of a building loomed up out of the mist. 一座建筑物巨大而朦胧的轮廓在雾霭中隐现。3  take a dim view of something DISAPPROVEto disapprove of something 不赞同某事，对某事持否定态度 Miss Watson took a dim view of Paul’s behaviour. 沃森小姐对保罗的行为颇为不齿。4  dim recollection/awareness etc REMEMBER#a memory or understanding of something that is not clear in your mind 模糊的记忆/意识等 SYN vague Laura had a dim recollection of someone telling her this before. 劳拉隐约记得以前曾有人告诉过她这件事。5  eyes 眼睛 literaryBRIGHT# dim eyes are weak and cannot see well 〔眼睛〕昏花的 Isaac was old and his eyes were dim. 以撒年老，眼睛昏花。6  future chances 未来的机会FAIL if your chances of success in the future are dim, they are not good 〔未来成功的机会〕暗淡的，渺茫的，不乐观的 Prospects for an early settlement of the dispute are dim. 早日解决争端的希望比较渺茫。7. in the dim and distant past PASTa very long time ago – used humorously 很久以前〔幽默用法〕8  not intelligent 愚笨的 informalSTUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT not intelligent 不聪明的 You can be really dim sometimes! 有时候你可真笨啊！ —dimly adverb a dimly lit room 光线昏暗的房间 She was only dimly aware of the risk. 她只是隐约意识到危险。 —dimness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

dim• The reading light over her seat is dim.• I'm playing a guy who's well-meaning but kind of dim.• She's not the brightest kid in the class -- in fact, she's quite dim.• The boy's just a little dim.• The lights were dim.• There were those in the dim corridors of Headquarters who said that his rise had been too fast.• Dying embers gave out a dim glow in the hearth.• He turned, his eyes resting momentarily upon the dim, grey shape of the funerary couch.• I was led through a dim hallway to his office.• For many students the 1970s are dim history.• There was nothing in the room but a table, a chair, and a dim lamp.• His face shadowed by the dim light, he crept out and slipped through a door behind the bridge.• It was impossible to read by the dim light of the fire.• We could only see a dim outline of a ship in the distance.• He saw the dim outline of the taxi-driver's head inside the cab.• That first visit when I stayed at the Al Ain Hilton seemed in the dim past.• There was enough starlight coming in the window to make out the dim shapes of bunkbeds and rucksacks.dim2 verb (dimmed, dimming)  1  [intransitive, transitive]BRIGHT# if a light dims, or if you dim it, it becomes less bright （使）变暗淡，（使）变昏暗 The lights in the theatre began to dim. 剧院里的灯光开始暗下来。2  [intransitive, transitive]REDUCE if a feeling, quality etc dims or is dimmed, it grows weaker or less 〔感觉〕变弱；〔品质〕下降 Even the rain could not dim their enthusiasm. 甚至下雨都未能减弱他们的热情。 Hopes of a peaceful settlement have dimmed. 和平解决的希望变得渺茫了。3. dim your headlights/lights American EnglishTTC to lower the angle of the front lights of your car, especially when someone is driving towards you 〔尤其当对面有车开来的时候〕把汽车前灯调为近光 SYN British English dip→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

dim• The painful memory began to dim.• By that time, witnesses may be unavailable-some may be dead or their memories dimmed.• That gap has fluctuated between about 2. 7 percent and 1. 45, widening whenever prospects for monetary union dim.• When she emerged, the wall-lights had been dimmed and the polished table by the french windows had been set for two.• You're surrounded by strangers, your dozy curiosity in their sayings and doings dimming as the house lights go down.• Even the death of Laura Ashley did not dim City enthusiasm.• Inside, the lobby lights had been dimmed like the interior of an airplane on a night flight.• Her words dimmed our hopes of a peaceful settlement.• Shadowy twilight never dimmed the brightness.• Can you dim the lights? I have a headache.Origin dim1 Old English

dim1 adjectivedim2 verbChinese  

or not light, Corpus giving much dark fairly

dim

I

dim¹ /dɪm/ adjective (comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest)1.  DARK fairly dark or not giving much light, so that you cannot see well
   OPP  bright:
    in the dim light of the early dawn
    a dim glow
2.  SHAPE a dim shape is one which is not easy to see because it is too far away, or there is not enough light:
    The dim outline of a building loomed up out of the mist.
3. take a dim view of something to disapprove of something:
    Miss Watson took a dim view of Paul’s behaviour.
4. dim recollection/awareness etc a memory or understanding of something that is not clear in your mind
   SYN  vague:
    Laura had a dim recollection of someone telling her this before.
5.  EYES literary dim eyes are weak and cannot see well:
    Isaac was old and his eyes were dim.
6.  FUTURE CHANCES if your chances of success in the future are dim, they are not good:
    Prospects for an early settlement of the dispute are dim.
7. in the dim and distant past a very long time ago – used humorously
8.  NOT INTELLIGENT informal not intelligent:
    You can be really dim sometimes!
—dimly adverb:
    a dimly lit room
    She was only dimly aware of the risk.
—dimness noun [uncountable]
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ dark if a place is dark, there is little or no light: The room was very dark. | No, you can’t play outside, it’s too dark. | It was a dark night with clouds covering the moon.
   ▪ dimly-lit a dimly-lit building or place is fairly dark because the lights there are not very bright: a dimly-lit restaurant | The church was dimly lit.
   ▪ dim a dim light is fairly dark: The camera can take good pictures even in dim lighting. | The evening sky grew dim.
   ▪ darkened a darkened room or building is darker than usual, especially because its lights have been turned off or the curtains have been drawn: The prisoner lay in a darkened room. | The play starts with a darkened stage, and the sound of a woman singing softly.
   ▪ gloomy a gloomy place or room is not at all bright or cheerful: The bar was gloomy and smelled of stale cigar smoke.
   ▪ murky dark and difficult to see through – used especially about water: the murky waters of the lake | I could hardly see him in the murky light of the bar.
   ▪ pitch-dark/pitch-black completely dark, so that nothing can be seen: It was pitch-dark inside the shed.
   ▪ shady a shady place is cooler and darker than the area around it, because the light of the sun cannot reach it: It was nice and shady under the trees. | They found a shady spot for a picnic.

II

dim² verb (past tense and past participle dimmed, present participle dimming)
1. [intransitive and transitive] if a light dims, or if you dim it, it becomes less bright:
    The lights in the theatre began to dim.
2. [intransitive and transitive] if a feeling, quality etc dims or is dimmed, it grows weaker or less:
    Even the rain could not dim their enthusiasm.
    Hopes of a peaceful settlement have dimmed.
3. dim your headlights/lights American English to lower the angle of the front lights of your car, especially when someone is driving towards you
   SYN  dip British English