1. A rheostat that varies the current through an electric light in order to control the level of illumination
   "He installed a dimmer switch to create mood lighting in the dining room"

1. Lacking in light; not bright or harsh
   "a dim light beside the bed";
   - subdued
    
2. Lacking clarity or distinctness
   "a dim figure in the distance";
   - faint, shadowy, vague, wispy
    
3. Made dim or less bright
   "the dim houselights brought a hush of anticipation";
   - dimmed
    
4. Offering little or no hope
   "took a dim view of things";
   - black, bleak
    
5. [informal] Taking more than usual time to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
   "never met anyone quite so dim";
   - dense, dull, dumb, obtuse, slow

Derived forms: dimmers

See also: daft [Brit, informal], dark, dumb, foolish, hopeless, imbecile, imbecilic, indistinct, low-beam, stupid

Type of: rheostat, variable resistor

Antonym: bright

Encyclopedia: Dimmer, Somerset