(~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If something ~s or you ~ it, it becomes greater in number, level, or amount.
The population continues to ~...
Japan’s industrial output ~d by 2%...
The company has ~d the price of its cars...
? decrease
VERB: V, V by/from/to amount, V n
2.
If there is an ~ in the number, level, or amount of something, it becomes greater.
...a sharp ~ in productivity...
= rise
? decrease
N-COUNT: oft N in n, N of amount
3.
If something is on the ~, it is happening more often or becoming greater in number or intensity.
Crime is on the ~.
PHRASE: v-link PHR