Words / B2

DENT/dent/

A dent here is a hollow in a hard surface caused by a blow or pressure: a dent in; make a dent. As a verb, to make that hollow. Scratch is surface-only; hole goes through. Measure the dent in mm, then the impact energy if given. Mix-up: dent vs tent; the “make a dent in” idiom (reduce an amount) — still quote the £ if used; do not write dent for a painted scratch with no hollow.

Meaning

A hollow in a hard surface caused by a blow or pressure.

Examples

• “Measure the dent in mm, then the impact energy if given, the physics paper said.”
• “A dent in the budget featured in the accounts, which is the idiom — still quote the £ figure.”

Good to know

a dent in; make a dent; to dent. Contrast: scratch / hole. Idiom: make a dent in (reduce). Trap: tent / a flat scratch. Physics and DT. A hollow from a blow — quote mm.

Near in meaning

hollow, indentation, dimple

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