Definition of Dwarf

1. Verb. Make appear small by comparison. "This year's debt dwarfs that of last year"

Exact synonyms: Overshadow, Shadow
Generic synonyms: Command, Dominate, Overlook, Overtop
Derivative terms: Shadow

2. Noun. A person who is markedly small.

3. Verb. Check the growth of. "The lack of sunlight dwarfed these pines"
Generic synonyms: Stunt

4. Noun. A legendary creature resembling a tiny old man; lives in the depths of the earth and guards buried treasure.
Exact synonyms: Gnome
Specialized synonyms: Nibelung, Andvari
Generic synonyms: Faerie, Faery, Fairy, Fay, Sprite
Derivative terms: Gnomic

5. Noun. A plant or animal that is atypically small.
Generic synonyms: Being, Organism

Definition of Dwarf

1. n. An animal or plant which is much below the ordinary size of its species or kind; especially, a diminutive human being.

2. v. t. To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt.

3. v. i. To become small; to diminish in size.

Definition of Dwarf

1. Noun. A creature from (especially Scandinavian and other Germanic) folklore, usually depicted as having supernatural powers and being skilled in metalworking. Sometimes pluralized dwarves, especially in modern fantasy literature. ¹

2. Noun. A person with short stature, often one whose limbs are disproportionately small in relation to the body as compared with normal adults, usually as the result of a genetic condition. ¹

3. Noun. An animal, plant or other thing much smaller than the usual of its sort. ¹

4. Noun. (star) A star of relatively small size. ¹

5. Adjective. (context: especially in botany) miniature ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To render (much) smaller, turn into a dwarf (version) ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) To make appear (much) smaller, puny, tiny ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To make appear insignificant ¹

9. Verb. (intransitive) To become (much) smaller ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Dwarf

1. extremely small [adj DWARFER, DWARFEST] / an extremely small person [n DWARFS or DWARVES] / to cause to appear small [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Dwarf

1. Pl Dwarfs . [OE. Dwergh, dwerf, dwarf, AS. Dweorg, dweorh; akin to D. Dwerg, MHG. Twerc, G. Zwerg, Icel. Dvergr, Sw. & Dan. Dverg; of unknown origin. An animal or plant which is much below the ordinary size of its species or kind; especially, a diminutive human being. During the Middle Ages dwarfs as well as fools shared the favor of courts and the nobility. Dwarf is used adjectively in reference to anything much below the usual or normal size; as, dwarf tree; dwarf honeysuckle. Dwarf elder, a low wall, not as high as the story of a building, often used as a garden wall or fence. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Dwarf

dvornik
dvorniks
dwaal
dwale
dwales
dwalm
dwalmed
dwalming
dwalms
dwam
dwammed
dwamming
dwams
dwang
dwangs
dwarf (current term)
dwarf-white trillium
dwarf Russian almond
dwarf astilbe
dwarf banana
dwarf bilberry
dwarf birch
dwarf blueberry
dwarf buckeye
dwarf buffalo
dwarf cape gooseberry
dwarf chestnut
dwarf chinkapin oak
dwarf chinquapin oak
dwarf cornel

Literary usage of Dwarf

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Report by New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Botanical Dept (1908)
"The "dwarf Stone" was freely used because of its compact form of plant and solid ... New types of plants may be obtained, that is. the dwarf habit with ..."

2. Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and of His Noble by Thomas Malory, William Caxton (1900)
"But ever as he rode with the dwarf toward his castle, he cried unto his lord and ... rode after to rescue his dwarf\ and came into the castle where he was. ..."

3. The Journal of Heredity by American Genetic Association (1920)
"TABLE II: Seedling Progenies from Self- pollinated Normal Green Plants Heterozygous for Tall-dwarf and Green- Pedigree No. 2862 2871 2991 2992 3017 Total ..."

4. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture: A Discussion for the Amateur, and by Liberty Hyde Bailey (1916)
""dwarf pears require thorough annual pruning, which may be done at any ... It is a very erroneous impression that a dwarf pear orchard under proper ..."

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