Decrease and Chafe

decrease

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

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

chafe

Soreness and warmth caused by friction.
- usage: "he had a nasty chafe on his knee"
Anger produced by some annoying irritation.
- synonyms: annoyance, vexation

Become or make sore by or as if by rubbing.
- synonyms: gall, fret
Feel extreme irritation or anger.
- usage: "He was chafing at her suggestion that he stay at home while she went on a vacation"
Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations.
- usage: "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves"
- synonyms: annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at, irritate, rile, nark, nettle, gravel, vex, devil
Tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading.
- usage: "This leash chafes the dog's neck"
- synonyms: excoriate
Cause friction.
- usage: "my sweater scratches"
- synonyms: rub, fray, fret, scratch
Warm by rubbing, as with the hands. .

(v.i.) To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes.
(v.t.) To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate.
(v.t.) To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable.
(v.t.) To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm.
(n.) Heat excited by friction.
(v.i.) To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction.
(n.) Injury or wear caused by friction.
(v.i.) To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated.
(n.) Vexation; irritation of mind; rage.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary