# diminution

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪmɪˈnjuːʃən/ · frequency rank #59,345

## Definitions
1. A lessening, decrease or reduction.
2. The act or process of making diminutive.
3. a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values.

## Etymology
From Middle English diminucioun, from Anglo-Norman diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin dīminūtiō.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/diminution