decrease Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a change downward
    drop-off; lessening.
    • there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided
    • there was a sharp drop-off in sales
  2. noun a process of becoming smaller or shorter
    decrement.
  3. noun the amount by which something decreases
    decrement.
  4. noun the act of decreasing or reducing something
    diminution; reduction; step-down.
  5. verb decrease in size, extent, or range
    diminish; fall; lessen.
    • 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
  6. verb make smaller
    minify; lessen.
    • He decreased his staff

WordNet

De*crease" intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître, or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), fr. L. decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Decreased ; present participle & verbal noun Decreasing
Definitions
  1. 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.
    He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30.
    Syn. -- To Decrease, Diminish. 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.
    The olive leaf, which certainly them told The flood decreased. Drayton.
    Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye; Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly. Pope.
De*crease" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
    That might decrease their present store. Prior.
De*crease" noun
Etymology
OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See Decrease, v.
Definitions
  1. A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
  2. The wane of the moon. Bacon.

Webster 1913