The AI-powered English dictionary
plural dents
A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact. examples
(figurative) A minor effect made upon something. quotations examples
"Case Of You" (#67, 1980), a single on the Scotti Brothers label, was Frank's first chart dent.
1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, page 392
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.
2022, W. David Marx, chapter 10, in Status and Culture, Viking
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. examples
(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 quotations examples
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.
2011 April 11, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport
third-person singular simple present dents, present participle denting, simple past and past participle dented
(transitive) To impact something, producing a dent. examples
(intransitive) To develop a dent or dents. examples
(engineering) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc. examples
(weaving) A slot or a wire in a reed examples