The act of diminishing; reducing in size, quantity, or quality.

plural of diminishment

to become smaller, weaker, or less important

(music) A musical interval of the Western twelve-semitone system consisting of four semitones and spanning four degrees of the diatonic scale. It is one semitone narrower than a perfect fourth and enharmonically equivalent to a major third.

(music) A type of tritone in musical composition comprising six semitones. It spans five diatonic scale degrees like a perfect fifth but narrower by a semitone. The number of diatonic degrees it spans is what distinguishes it from an augmented fourth.

plural of diminished seventh

(music) A musical interval of the Western twelve-semitone system consisting of nine semitones and spanning seven degrees of the diatonic scale. It is one semitone narrower than a minor seventh and enharmonically equivalent to a major sixth.

(music) A musical interval of the Western twelve-semitone system consisting of eleven semitones and spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale. It is one semitone narrower than a perfect octave and enharmonically equivalent to a major seventh.

plural of diminished octave

(law) A defense by which the defendant argues that, although they broke the law, they should not be held fully criminally liable, as their mental functions were impaired.