dent

Meanings

Noun

• A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
• 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.
• A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action
• A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
• A slot or a wire in a reed

Verb

• To impact something, producing a dent.
• To develop a dent or dents.

Origin

• From Middle English dent, dente, dint, from Old English dynt ("blow, strike, the mark or noise of a blow"), from Proto-Germanic *duntiz ("a blow"). Akin to Old Norse dyntr ("dint"). More at dint.
• From French, from Latin dēns, dentis. tooth.