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decrease

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To decrease is defined as to make something smaller or fewer or to become smaller or fewer.

(verb)

When you lower the amount you give to charity, this is an example of a situation where you decrease your contribution.
When the snow begins to melt and these is less of it on the road, this is an example of a situation where the snow decreases.

See decrease in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb, transitive verb decreased, decreasing

to become or cause to become less, smaller, etc.; diminish

Origin: ME decresen < OFr decreistre < L decrescere < de-, from, away + crescere, grow: see crescent

noun

a decreasing; lessening; diminution
amount of decreasing

Origin: ME decres

Related Forms:

decreasingly adverb

See decrease in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intr. & tr.v. de·creased, de·creas·ing, de·creas·es

To grow or cause to grow gradually less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity.

noun (dēˈkrēsˌ)

The act or process of decreasing.
The amount by which something decreases.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English decresen

Origin: , from Old French decreistre, decreiss-

Origin: , from Latin dēcrēscere

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + crēscere, to grow; see ker-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

de·creasˈing·ly adverb

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