I. (ˈ)dē|krēs also də̇ˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English decreessen from (assumed) Anglo-French decreistre (3d person plural present indicative decreissent ), from Latin decrescere, from de from, down, away + crescere to grow, increase — more at de- , crescent
intransitive verb
: to grow less especially gradually : become diminished (as in size, amount, or strength) : lessen , dwindle
his stock decreased as the war went on
his influence slowly decreased
transitive verb
1. : to cause to grow less especially gradually : diminish
this medicine will decrease his pain
it is necessary to decrease the amount of coal used
2. : to remove (a stitch) by knitting two stitches together or by passing a slipped stitch over a knitted stitch
Synonyms:
lessen , diminish , reduce , abate , dwindle : decrease , frequently interchangeable with others in this set, may apply to any process of growing less
the population of the area is decreasing
a steadily decreasing income
a rather even crest line, which decreases in elevation eastward — C.B.Hitchcock
a decreasing chance for victory
decreasing intensity
belief in the evolution of man's body has decreased among paleontologists — R.W.Murray
lessen , meaning simply to become less, is a close synonym for decrease except that it is usually not used with stated numbers
the valley widens, hills lessen in height — American Guide Series: Texas
lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence — Jane Austen
I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill-opinion — Jane Austen
they find that in these quarters the Church is suspected of being an ally of ‘capitalism,’ and that their influence is lessened in consequence — W.R.Inge
the fever is lessened
but
the fever decreased from 101° to 99°
diminish may add to the meaning of decrease the notion of loss, of subtraction, sometimes unfortunate
with the retreat of the forest, the amount of variety of wild game inevitably diminished — American Guide Series: Minnesota
with the advent of the railroad, trade diminished and the town gradually declined — American Guide Series: Louisiana
he has shown that he is reluctant to use his prestige to such ends, and his continued refusal to use it diminishes his power to do so — R.H.Rovere
reduce may heighten suggestion of the role of an agent or agency effecting a change; it may also implicate a lowering of status or significance
devices adopted by the government to reduce unemployment — Collier's Year Book
medical science has reduced the incidence of many communicable diseases virtually to zero — Gertrude Samuels
the yeoman, it has been said, was being steadily reduced to a peasant — G.E.Fussell
abate may be used to indicate the decrease in intensity, amount, force, or significance of something immoderate or excessive
misfortune had abated the grandiosity of the Roman temper, and there was a widespread reaction towards simplicity — John Buchan
the long tradition of mutual injury and revenge … had left animosities that took long to abate — G.M.Trevelyan
physically weakened by a stomach disorder that will not abate — Hollis Alpert
dwindle may apply to progressive lessening or weakening towards insignificance
the last rays of daylight dwindled and disappeared — R.L. Stevenson
the Zarafshan had already dwindled to an insignificant creek — Douglas Carruthers
the great buffalo herds, once estimated at 60,000,000 head in Texas, have dwindled to a few animals — American Guide Series: Texas
the place dwindled in importance and at present is a small trading village — American Guide Series: Oregon
II. ˈdēˌkrēs also dēˈ- or də̇ˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English decrees, from (assumed) Anglo-French decreis, from (assumed) Anglo-French decreistre, v.
1. : the process of becoming less or the condition resulting from such a process : gradual diminution
we shall be conscious of a certain decrease in scientific dogmatism — Irving Babbitt
2. : the amount by which something decreases : decline
the decrease in exports for the year was 15 percent
3. knitting
a. : the act of decreasing
b. : the place where decreasing is done