dwarf
dwawf
Dwarf (noun) means a person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind. Example: “The greenhouse specialised in dwarf fruit trees.”
noun
1
A person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind.
"The greenhouse specialised in dwarf fruit trees."
2
In folklore, a small humanlike being often skilled in crafting and mining.
"In the story, a dwarf forged the hero's sword."
"The children read a tale about a grumpy dwarf who guarded a cave full of gems."
"In the fantasy game, you play as a dwarf who digs tunnels beneath mountains."
verb
1
To make something appear much smaller by comparison.
"The new skyscraper dwarfs every other building in the city."
"The huge oak tree dwarfed the little cottage beside it."
"Compared with the vast desert, our small campsite was dwarfed."
How to use dwarf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething much smaller than usual, a mythical small being, or (as a verb) to make something look tiny by comparison.
Common mistake
When referring to a person of short stature due to a medical condition, "little person" is generally preferred today over "dwarf" as a noun for a person.
Common pairings
dwarf star
dwarf tree
dwarf someone/something (make it look small)
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Word forms
- Plural
- dwarfs, dwarves
- Third person singular
- dwarfs
- Past tense
- dwarfed
- Comparative
- dwarfer
- Superlative
- dwarfest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The greenhouse specialised in _____ fruit trees.
Etymology
From Old English dweorg, going back to a very old Germanic word for a small, sometimes magical, being.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dwarf
See all rhymes for 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.
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