decrease

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a change downward

   There was a decrease in my temperature as the fever subsided.

2. 2
   verb

   decrease in size, extent, or range

   The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester

3. 3
   verb

   make smaller

   I decreased the staff due to budget issues.

4. 4
   verb

   Of a quantity, to become smaller.

   The quality of our products has decreased since the main designer left.

5. 5
   verb

   To make (a quantity) smaller.

   Let's decrease the volume a little so we can hear each other talking.

6. 6
   noun

   An amount by which a quantity decreases or is decreased.

   After six years of constant growth, the company reported a slight decrease in sales last year.

7. 7
   noun

   the act of decreasing or reducing something

8. 8
   noun

   the amount by which something decreases

Etymology

From Middle English decresen, alteration of discresen, from Anglo-Norman, Old French descreistre (French: décroître), from Latin decrescere.