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

Diluting a solution refers to the process of reducing its concentration by adding a solvent, typically water. When water is added to a concentrated solution, it decreases the amount of solute per unit volume, resulting in a solution with a lower concentration of the solute. This is an essential concept in chemistry, particularly when preparing solutions for various applications, such as in laboratories, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.

In this context, other terms like defoliate, derive, and disinfect do not apply to the process of modifying the concentration of a solution. Defoliation refers to the removal of leaves from a plant, deriving usually involves obtaining something from a source, and disinfection pertains to killing or inactivating pathogens on surfaces or in liquids, which does not involve changing the concentration of a solution in the same manner as dilution. Therefore, the act of diluting accurately captures the intended meaning of making a solution less concentrated by adding water.