Meaning

A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact..

Definitions by Sense

1. A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
2. (figurative) A minor effect made upon something.
3. A type of maize/corn with a relatively soft outer hull, and a soft type of starch that shrinks at maturity to leave an indentation in the surface of the kernel.
4. (by extension, informal) A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action
5. (transitive) To impact something, producing a dent.
6. (intransitive) To develop a dent or dents.
7. (engineering) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
8. (weaving) A slot or a wire in a reed.

Example Sentences

The crash produced a dent in the left side of the car.

to make a dent

"Case Of You" (#67, 1980), a single on the Scotti Brothers label, was Frank's first chart dent.

The transitoriness perhaps makes viral content the most representative form of culture in the twenty-first century: an era of vast quantities, deep specificity, and breakneck speed, where few individual artifacts, artworks, or conventions leave a dent in society or bend the curve of history.

That purchase put a bit of a dent in my wallet.

Andy Carroll's first goals since his £35m move to Liverpool put a dent in Manchester City's Champions League hopes as they were emphatically swept aside at Anfield.

Copper is soft and dents easily.

Centering for a weaving width of 15 7/15", sley 2 ends per dent in a 15-dent reed, or centering for a width of 15 5/10", sley 3 ends per dent in a 10-dent reed.

Word Forms

• dents
• denting
• dented

Synonyms for dent

Related Words

When Should You Use Dent?

Use dent when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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