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dent

verb
\ ˈdent How to pronounce dent (audio) \
dented; denting; dents

Definition of dent

 (Entry 1 of 6)

transitive verb

1 : to make a dent in dent a car
2 : to have a weakening effect on

intransitive verb

: to form a dent by sinking inward : become dented

dent

noun (1)

Definition of dent (Entry 2 of 6)

1 : a depression or hollow made by a blow or by pressure
2 : an appreciable impression or effect often made against resistance hasn't made a dent in the problem specifically : a weakening or lessening effect costs that have made a dent in the budget

dent

noun (2)

Definition of dent (Entry 3 of 6)

: tooth sense 2a

dent

abbreviation

Definition of dent (Entry 4 of 6)

dental; dentist; dentistry

dent-

combining form
variants: or denti- or dento-

Definition of dent- (Entry 5 of 6)

: tooth : teeth dentiform

Dent

biographical name
\ ˈdent How to pronounce Dent (audio) \

Definition of Dent (Entry 6 of 6)

Joseph Mal*a*by \ ˈma-​lə-​bē How to pronounce ˈma-lə-bē (audio)\ 1849–1926 English publisher
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dent

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Examples of dent in a Sentence

Verb

 I'm afraid I dented the wall pretty badly when I was hammering in that nail. Many of the cans were badly dented. Some types of metal dent more easily than others. The team's confidence has been dented by a recent series of losses.
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First Known Use of dent

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1703, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for dent

Verb

Middle English, short for indenten to make dents in, indent

Noun (2)

French, literally, tooth, from Latin dent-, dens

Combining form

Middle English denti-, from Latin, from dent-, dens tooth — more at tooth

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More Definitions for dent

dent

verb
How to pronounce Dent (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of dent

: to make a dent in (something)
: to decrease (something) : to make (something) weaker

See the full definition for dent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dent

verb
\ ˈdent How to pronounce dent (audio) \
dented; denting

Kids Definition of dent

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to make a hollow mark in or on I dented my car.
2 : to become damaged by a hollow mark

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