"diminution" meaning in English

See diminution in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /dɪmɪˈnjuːʃən/ Forms: diminutions [plural]
Rhymes: -uːʃən Etymology: From Middle English diminucioun, from Anglo-Norman diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin dīminūtiō. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|diminucioun}} Middle English diminucioun, {{der|en|xno|diminuciun}} Anglo-Norman diminuciun, {{der|en|fro|diminucion}} Old French diminucion, {{der|en|la|dīminūtiō}} Latin dīminūtiō Head templates: {{en-noun|~}} diminution (countable and uncountable, plural diminutions)
  1. A lessening, decrease or reduction. Tags: countable, uncountable Synonyms (lessening, decrease): diminishment Translations (lessening, decrease or reduction): μείωσις (meíōsis) [feminine] (Ancient Greek), намаляване (namaljavane) [neuter] (Bulgarian), намаление (namalenie) [neuter] (Bulgarian), snížení [neuter] (Czech), zmenšení [neuter] (Czech), Rückgang [masculine] (German), laghdú [masculine] (Irish), diminuzione [feminine] (Italian), tuaititanga (Maori), ero (Maori), diminuare [feminine] (Romanian), micșorare [feminine] (Romanian), scădere [feminine] (Romanian), disminución [feminine] (Spanish), förminskning [common-gender] (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-diminution-en-noun-sa8LwTQd Disambiguation of 'lessening, decrease': 94 1 4 Disambiguation of 'lessening, decrease or reduction': 98 0 2
  2. The act or process of making diminutive. Tags: countable, uncountable
    Sense id: en-diminution-en-noun-c3yntrZQ
  3. (music) a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values. Tags: countable, uncountable Categories (topical): Music
    Sense id: en-diminution-en-noun-ZdGnD2zR Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries, Terms with Ancient Greek translations, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Irish translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Maori translations, Terms with Romanian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Swedish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 36 2 62 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 39 4 57 Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 38 4 59 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 37 2 61 Disambiguation of Terms with Ancient Greek translations: 30 16 54 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 31 7 62 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 29 10 60 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 35 7 58 Disambiguation of Terms with Irish translations: 31 9 60 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 37 3 60 Disambiguation of Terms with Maori translations: 32 9 59 Disambiguation of Terms with Romanian translations: 32 7 60 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 38 2 60 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 32 8 60 Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: abatement, declension, decline, decrease, decrement, diminution, lessening, reduction, shrinking Related terms: diminish, diminished, diminuendo

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "augmentation"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "diminucioun"
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      "expansion": "Middle English diminucioun",
      "name": "inh"
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    {
      "args": {
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        "2": "xno",
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      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "diminucion"
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      "expansion": "Old French diminucion",
      "name": "der"
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    {
      "args": {
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        "3": "dīminūtiō"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin dīminūtiō",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English diminucioun, from Anglo-Norman diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin dīminūtiō.",
  "forms": [
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      "form": "diminutions",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
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      "expansion": "diminution (countable and uncountable, plural diminutions)",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
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    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "diminish"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "diminished"
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      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "diminuendo"
    }
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          "text": "The new emission standards have produced a measurable diminution in air pollution.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1800 October 24, Alexander Hamilton, “Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States”, in edited by Harold C. Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, volumes 25, July 1800 – April 1802, New York: Columbia University Press, published 1962, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 187:",
          "text": "Another part, feeling a diminution of confidence in him, still hope that the general tenor of his conduct will be essentially right.",
          "type": "quote"
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        {
          "ref": "1860, John Ruskin, chapter 1, in Modern Painters […], volume V, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, part VII (Of Cloud Beauty), § 9, page 111:",
          "text": "Cold is usually shapeless, I suppose, extending over large spaces equally, or with gradual diminution.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1954, Wallace Stegner, Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West, Houghton Mifflin, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 170:",
          "text": "Scenic illusions such as those caused by the haze, or the apparent diminution of scale where everything was enormous, intrigued Dutton.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A lessening, decrease or reduction."
      ],
      "id": "en-diminution-en-noun-sa8LwTQd",
      "links": [
        [
          "lessening",
          "lessening"
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        [
          "decrease",
          "decrease"
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        [
          "reduction",
          "reduction"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "94 1 4",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease",
          "word": "diminishment"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
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      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "namaljavane",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "намаляване"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "namalenie",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "намаление"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "snížení"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "zmenšení"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Rückgang"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "meíōsis",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "μείωσις"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "laghdú"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "diminuzione"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "word": "tuaititanga"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "word": "ero"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "diminuare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "micșorare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "scădere"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "disminución"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "98 0 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "förminskning"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The act or process of making diminutive."
      ],
      "id": "en-diminution-en-noun-c3yntrZQ",
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        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
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          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Music",
          "orig": "en:Music",
          "parents": [
            "Art",
            "Sound",
            "Culture",
            "Energy",
            "Society",
            "Nature",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
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          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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            "Entry maintenance"
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          "_dis": "30 16 54",
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          "_dis": "31 9 60",
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          "_dis": "37 3 60",
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          "kind": "other",
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values."
      ],
      "id": "en-diminution-en-noun-ZdGnD2zR",
      "links": [
        [
          "music",
          "music"
        ],
        [
          "compositional",
          "compose"
        ],
        [
          "melody",
          "melody"
        ],
        [
          "note value",
          "note value"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(music) a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "entertainment",
        "lifestyle",
        "music"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/dɪmɪˈnjuːʃən/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːʃən"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "abatement"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "declension"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "decline"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "decrease"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "decrement"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "diminution"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "lessening"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "reduction"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "shrinking"
    }
  ],
  "word": "diminution"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "augmentation"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/uːʃən",
    "Rhymes:English/uːʃən/4 syllables",
    "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Irish translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations",
    "Terms with Romanian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "diminucioun"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English diminucioun",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "xno",
        "3": "diminuciun"
      },
      "expansion": "Anglo-Norman diminuciun",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "diminucion"
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      "expansion": "Old French diminucion",
      "name": "der"
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "dīminūtiō"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin dīminūtiō",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English diminucioun, from Anglo-Norman diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin dīminūtiō.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "diminutions",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
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      "expansion": "diminution (countable and uncountable, plural diminutions)",
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    "di‧mi‧nu‧tion"
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "diminish"
    },
    {
      "word": "diminished"
    },
    {
      "word": "diminuendo"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The new emission standards have produced a measurable diminution in air pollution.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1800 October 24, Alexander Hamilton, “Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States”, in edited by Harold C. Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, volumes 25, July 1800 – April 1802, New York: Columbia University Press, published 1962, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 187:",
          "text": "Another part, feeling a diminution of confidence in him, still hope that the general tenor of his conduct will be essentially right.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1860, John Ruskin, chapter 1, in Modern Painters […], volume V, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, part VII (Of Cloud Beauty), § 9, page 111:",
          "text": "Cold is usually shapeless, I suppose, extending over large spaces equally, or with gradual diminution.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1954, Wallace Stegner, Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West, Houghton Mifflin, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 170:",
          "text": "Scenic illusions such as those caused by the haze, or the apparent diminution of scale where everything was enormous, intrigued Dutton.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A lessening, decrease or reduction."
      ],
      "links": [
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          "lessening"
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        [
          "decrease",
          "decrease"
        ],
        [
          "reduction",
          "reduction"
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      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
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    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The act or process of making diminutive."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
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    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Music"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values."
      ],
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          "music",
          "music"
        ],
        [
          "compositional",
          "compose"
        ],
        [
          "melody",
          "melody"
        ],
        [
          "note value",
          "note value"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(music) a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "entertainment",
        "lifestyle",
        "music"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/dɪmɪˈnjuːʃən/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːʃən"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "lessening, decrease",
      "word": "diminishment"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "abatement"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "declension"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "decline"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "decrease"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "decrement"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "diminution"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "lessening"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "reduction"
    },
    {
      "source": "Thesaurus:diminution",
      "word": "shrinking"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "namaljavane",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "намаляване"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "namalenie",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "намаление"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "snížení"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "zmenšení"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Rückgang"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "meíōsis",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "μείωσις"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "laghdú"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "diminuzione"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "word": "tuaititanga"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "word": "ero"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "diminuare"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "micșorare"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "scădere"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "disminución"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "lessening, decrease or reduction",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "förminskning"
    }
  ],
  "word": "diminution"
}

Download raw JSONL data for diminution meaning in English (6.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-01-10 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-01-01 using wiktextract (df33d17 and 4ed51a5). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.