Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Decrease

De-crease′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Decreased
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Decreasing
.]
[OE.
decrecen
, fr. OF.
decreistre
, F.
décroître
, or from the OF. noun (see
Decrease
,
Noun.
), 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
.
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′

,
Verb.
T.
To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually;
as, extravagance
decreases
one's means
.
That might
decrease
their present store.
Prior.

De-crease′

,
Noun.
[OE.
decrees
, OF.
decreis
, fr.
decreistre
. See
Decrease
,
Verb.
]
1.
A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay;
as, a
decrease
of revenue or of strength
.
2.
The wane of the moon.
Bacon.

Webster 1828 Edition


Decrease

DECREASE

,
Verb.
I.
[L. To grow.] To become less; to be diminished gradually, in extent, bulk, quantity, or amount, or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, the days decrease in length from June to December.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii.

DECREASE

,
Verb.
T.
To lessen; to make smaller in dimensions, amount, quality or excellence, &c; to diminish gradually or by small deductions; as, extravagance decreases the means of charity; every payment decreases a debt; intemperance decreases the strength and powers of life.

DECREASE

,
Noun.
1.
A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as a decrease of revenue; a decrease of strength.
2.
The wane of the moon; the gradual diminution of the visible face of the moon from the full to the change.

Definition 2024


decrease

decrease

English

Verb

decrease (third-person singular simple present decreases, present participle decreasing, simple past and past participle decreased)

  1. (intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.
  2. (transitive) To make (a quantity) smaller.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

decrease (countable and uncountable, plural decreases)

  1. An amount by which a quantity is decreased.
  2. (knitting) A reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch. See Decrease (knitting).

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Anagrams