What does it mean to make a solution less concentrated by adding water?

Diluting a solution refers to the process of making it less concentrated, which is achieved by adding a solvent, such as water. When water is added to a concentrated solution, it increases the total volume while reducing the concentration of the solute. This is a common practice in various applications, including chemistry, cooking, and agriculture, to achieve a desired concentration for specific purposes.

The other terms provided have different meanings; for instance, defoliation involves the removal of leaves from plants, deriving pertains to obtaining something from a source, and disinfecting is the process of eliminating pathogens from surfaces. None of these terms describe the act of reducing concentration through the addition of water, which clearly distinguishes "dilute" as the most appropriate choice in this context.