Decrease and Cease

noun

• A change downward.
  • usage: "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
  • synonyms: lessening, drop-off
• A process of becoming smaller or shorter.
  • synonyms: decrement
• The amount by which something decreases.
  • synonyms: decrement
• The act of decreasing or reducing something.
  • synonyms: diminution, reduction, step-down

verb

• Decrease in size, extent, or range.
  • usage: "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
  • synonyms: diminish, lessen, fall
• Make smaller.
  • usage: "He decreased his staff"
  • synonyms: lessen, minify

• (v.t.) To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
• (v.) A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
• (n.) 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.
• (v.) The wane of the moon.

noun

• (n.) ((`cease' is a noun only in the phrase `without cease') end)

verb

• Put an end to a state or an activity.
  • usage: "Quit teasing your little brother"
  • synonyms: discontinue, stop, give up, quit, lay off
• Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical.
  • usage: "the bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed"; "Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other"; "My property ends by the bushes"; "The symphony ends in a pianissimo"
  • synonyms: end, stop, finish, terminate

• (v.i.) To come to an end; to stop; to leave off or give over; to desist; as, the noise ceased.
• (v.i.) To be wanting; to fail; to pass away.
• (n.) Extinction.
• (v.t.) To put a stop to; to bring to an end.