Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - minimize

(minimizes, minimizing, minimized) Note: in BRIT, also use 'minimise' 1. If you minimize a risk, problem, or unpleasant situation, you reduce it to the lowest possible level, or prevent it increasing beyond that level. Many of these problems can be minimised by sensible planning. ? maximize VERB: V n 2. If you minimize something, you make it seem smaller or less significant than it really is. Some have minimized the importance of ideological factors... = play down ? maximize VERB: V n 3. If you minimize a window on a computer screen, you make it very small, because you do not want to use it. Click the square icon again to minimize the window. ? maximize VERB: V n