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decline

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Decline is defined as to refuse something, slope downward, become less or to sink from view.

(verb)

An example of decline is someone saying no when they've been asked out to dinner.
An example of decline is a ski run.
An example of decline is the unemployment rate going from 9% to 7.5%.
An example of decline is the sun setting in the West.

The definition of a decline is a lessening or failing.

(noun)

An example of decline is the collapse of the Roman Empire.
An example of decline is the quality of a glass of milk as it starts to sour over time.
An example of decline is the failing health of someone with cancer.

See decline in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb declined, declining

to bend, turn, or slope downward or aside
1. to sink, as the setting sun
2. to approach the end; wane: the day is declining
to lessen in force, health, value, etc.; deteriorate; decay
to descend to behavior that is base or immoral
to refuse to accept or do something, esp. in a way that is formally polite

Origin: ME declinen < OFr decliner, to bend, turn aside < L declinare, to bend from, inflect < de-, from (see de-) + clinare, to bend: see lean

transitive verb

to cause to bend or slope downward or aside
to refuse, esp. in a formally polite way: I must decline your offer
Gram. to inflect (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) systematically, giving its different forms according to case, number, and gender

noun