minimize B1 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈmɪn.ɪˌmaɪz/ UK /ˈmɪn.ɪ.maɪz/ See IPA manual Freq #19108 Meanings 1 verb To make something as small as possible. Wearing a seatbelt helps minimize the risk of injury. 2 verb To make something seem less important or serious than it really is. He tried to minimize the damage by blaming bad weather. 3 verb To shrink a window on a computer screen so it is hidden but still open. I minimized all the windows so I could see the desktop. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to make something as small... reducedecreaselessen 2 verb · to make something seem less... downplayunderstatebelittle Word family Forms minimizedminimizesminimizing Derived forms minimandminimizableminimizationminimizerunminimizeunminimized Etymology AI details From Latin minimus + -ize. Topics Describing Qualities Technology & Computing External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # minimize **Type:** Word **Level:** B1 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈmɪn.ɪˌmaɪz/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈmɪn.ɪ.maɪz/ **Frequency rank:** 19108 ## Meanings 1. To make something as small as possible. 2. To make something seem less important or serious than it really is. 3. To shrink a window on a computer screen so it is hidden but still open. ## Examples - Wearing a seatbelt helps minimize the risk of injury. - He tried to minimize the damage by blaming bad weather. - I minimized all the windows so I could see the desktop. ## Derived Forms - minimand - minimizable - minimization - minimizer - unminimize - unminimized ## Etymology From Latin minimus + -ize. ## AI Etymology Minimize comes from Latin minimus + -ize. In present-day English its meanings include to make something as small as possible, to make something seem less important or serious than it really is, and to shrink a window on a computer screen so it is hidden but still open. Related and derived forms include minimand, minimizable, and minimization. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Technology & Computing markdown