4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Decrease  \De*crease"\,  v.  t. 
  To  cause  to  grow  less  to  diminish  gradually;  as 
  extravagance  decreases  one's  means 
 
  That  might  decrease  their  present  store.  --Prior. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  2.  The  wane  of  the  moon.  --Bacon. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  decrease 
  n  1:  a  change  downward;  "there  was  a  sharp  drop-off  in  sales" 
  [syn:  {lessening},  {drop-off}]  [ant:  {increase}] 
  2:  a  process  of  becoming  smaller  [syn:  {decrement}]  [ant:  {increase}, 
  {increase}] 
  3:  the  amount  by  which  something  decreases  [syn:  {decrement}] 
  [ant:  {increase}] 
  4:  the  act  of  decreasing  or  reducing  something  [syn:  {diminution}, 
  {reduction},  {step-down}]  [ant:  {increase}] 
  v  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  fall  to  under  a 
  hundred  pounds";  "his  voice  fell  to  a  whisper"  [syn:  {diminish}, 
  {lessen},  {fall}]  [ant:  {increase}] 
  2:  make  smaller;  "He  decreased  his  staff"  [syn:  {lessen},  {minify}] 
  [ant:  {increase}] 

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