1. 使减至最低程度;使保持最低程度
    If you minimize a risk, problem, or unpleasant situation, you reduce it to the lowest possible level, or prevent it increasing beyond that level.

    e.g. Concerned people want to minimize the risk of developing cancer...
           相关人员希望尽可能降低罹癌风险。
    e.g. Many of these problems can be minimised by sensible planning.
           这些问题很多可以通过合理安排尽可能避免。

2. 对…轻描淡写；使显得不重要
    If you minimize something, you make it seem smaller or less significant than it really is.

    e.g. Some have minimized the importance of ideological factors...
           有些人淡化了意识形态因素的重要性。
    e.g. At his trial, he tried to minimize his behavior.
           接受审判的时候，他企图对自己的行为轻描淡写。

3. 把(计算机屏幕上的窗口)最小化
    If you minimize a window on a computer screen, you make it very small, because you do not want to use it.

    e.g. Click the square icon again to minimize the window.
           再次点击正方形图标，把窗口最小化。