decrease

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: lesseningdrop-offdecrementdiminutionreductionstep-downdiminishlessenfallminify

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a change downward“there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided”“there was a sharp drop-off in sales”Synonyms: lesseningdrop-off
  2. a process of becoming smaller or shorterSynonyms: decrement
  3. the amount by which something decreasesSynonyms: decrement
  4. the act of decreasing or reducing somethingSynonyms: diminutionreductionstep-down

Verb (2)

  1. decrease in size, extent, or range“The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester”“The cabin pressure fell dramatically”“her weight fell to under a hundred pounds”“his voice fell to a whisper”Synonyms: diminishlessenfall
  2. make smaller“He decreased his staff”Synonyms: lessenminify
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Decrease \De*crease"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decreased; p. pr. & vb. n. Decreasing.] [OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. d['e]cro[^i]tre, or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), fr. L. decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase.] To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December. [1913 Webster]

He must increase, but I must decrease. --John iii. 30.

Syn: To Decrease, Diminish.

Usage: Things usually decrease or fall off by degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is imperceptible; as, the flood decreases; the cold decreases; their affection has decreased. Things commonly diminish by an influence from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was diminished by disease; his property is diminishing through extravagance; their affection has diminished since their separation their separation. The turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be interchanged. [1913 Webster]

The olive leaf, which certainly them told The flood decreased.— Drayton.[1913 Webster]
Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye; Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
Decrease \De*crease"\, v. t. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means. [1913 Webster]

That might decrease their present store. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

Decrease \De*crease"\, n. [OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See Decrease, v.]

1.A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength. [1913 Webster]

2.The wane of the moon. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

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