[] to make sth less harmful, serious, dangerous, etc. 减轻严重性；缓和；减低（坏处、伤害等）◆The bank uses several methods to mitigate risk. 这家银行采取了好几种方法降低风险。◆The company is trying to mitigate the effects of falling orders. 这家公司正设法减轻订单数量下滑的影响。◆He would have faced a prison sentence except for mitigating circumstances(= that made his crime seem less serious). 他将面临终身监禁，除非有可考虑从轻处置的情节。