dwarf
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for dwarf, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dwarf
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English dweorg, going back to a very old Germanic word for a small, sometimes magical, being.
Full origin of dwarf →Frequently asked questions
What does “dwarf” mean?
The word “dwarf” means a person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind. In plain terms, something much smaller than usual, a mythical small being, or (as a verb) to make something look tiny by comparison.
How do you pronounce “dwarf”?
“Dwarf” is pronounced dwawf (/dwɔɹf/ in IPA).
How do you use “dwarf” in a sentence?
Here is “dwarf” used in a sentence: “The greenhouse specialised in dwarf fruit trees.”
What part of speech is “dwarf”?
Depending on how it is used, “dwarf” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dwarf” come from?
The word “dwarf” comes from Old English. From Old English dweorg, going back to a very old Germanic word for a small, sometimes magical, being.
Is “dwarf” a common word?
“Dwarf” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dwarf” have?
“Dwarf” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind.
What is the difference between a dwarf and a midget?
Dwarf is the standard, accepted term for a person with dwarfism, a medical condition resulting in unusually short stature. Midget is now widely considered offensive and outdated, and has fallen out of respectful use.
Is dwarf or dwarves the correct plural?
Both dwarfs and dwarves are used, but they tend to split by context: dwarfs is more common in scientific and everyday usage, such as describing celestial bodies or garden plants. Dwarves became popular through fantasy fiction, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien's work, and is now the standard plural for the folklore beings.
How is dwarf used as a verb?
As a verb, dwarf means to make something look much smaller by comparison, as in 'the skyscraper dwarfs the houses around it.' It is commonly used figuratively to describe one thing being overshadowed in size, scale, or importance by another.