資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dwindle \Dwin"dle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dwindled}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Dwindling}.] [From OE. dwinen to languish, waste away,
   AS. dw[=i]nan; akin to LG. dwinen, D. dwijnen to vanish,
   Icel. dv[=i]na to cease, dwindle, Sw. tvina; of uncertain
   origin. The suffix -le, preceded by d excrescent after n, is
   added to the root with a diminutive force.]
   To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume
   away; to become degenerate; to fall away.

         Weary sennights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak
         and pine.                                --Shak.

         Religious societies, though begun with excellent
         intentions, are said to have dwindled into factious
         clubs.                                   --Swift.

資料來源 : WordNet®

dwindling
     n : a becoming gradually less; "there is no greater sadness that
         the dwindling away of a family" [syn: {dwindling away}]

dwindling
     adj : gradually decreasing until little remains [syn: {tapering},
           {tapering off}]