мельча́ть

rare #40056

verbimperfective

1.
to become smaller, to grow smaller, to shrink
Лес постепе́нно мельча́ет.
The forest is gradually getting smaller.
Of objects, areas or living things gradually decreasing in size.
2.
to become shallower, to get shallow
Река́ летом мельча́ет.
The river gets shallower in summer.
Of rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.
3.
to become petty, to degenerate, to lose significance
Ему каза́лось, что лю́ди мельча́ют.
It seemed to him that people were becoming petty.
Figurative: of people, talents or ideas becoming trivial or less important.

Examples

Люди вокруг него как будто мельчают.
The people around him seem to be becoming more petty.
Река с каждым годом мельчает от засухи.
The river gets shallower every year because of the drought.
Озеро мельчает и превращается в болото.
The lake is getting shallower and turning into a swamp.

Imperative
ты	мельча́й
вы	мельча́йте

Active present	мельча́ющий	becoming smaller, getting finer, dwindling
Active past	мельча́вший	that was becoming smaller, that was growing finer
Passive present	-
Passive past	-
Gerund present	мельча́я	while doing (present)
Gerund past	мельчав мельчавши	while doing (past)

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Verb	Prefix	Meaning
мельча́ть	-	to become smaller; to become shallower; to become petty
измельча́ть	из-	to grind; to shred; to become smaller; to become shallow; to degenerate
размельча́ть	раз-	to make small

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