Decrease and Chop

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

• The irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide. )
  • usage: "the boat headed into the chop"
• A small cut of meat including part of a rib.
• A jaw.
  • usage: "I'll hit him on the chops"
• A tennis return made with a downward motion that puts backspin on the ball.
  • synonyms: chop shot
• A grounder that bounces high in the air.
  • synonyms: chopper

verb

• Cut into pieces.
  • usage: "Chop wood"; "chop meat"
  • synonyms: chop up
• Move suddenly.
• Form or shape by chopping.
  • usage: "chop a hole in the ground"
• Strike sharply, as in some sports.
• Cut with a hacking tool.
  • synonyms: hack
• Hit sharply. .

• (n.) Quality; brand; as, silk of the first chop.
• (v.i.) To interrupt; -- with in or out.
• (v.i.) To barter or truck.
• (n.) The land at each side of the mouth of a river, harbor or channel; as, East Chop or West Chop. See Chops.
• (n.) A piece chopped off; a slice or small piece, especially of meat; as, a mutton chop.
• (v.i.) To make a quick strike or repeated strokes, with an ax or other sharp instrument.
• (n.) A jaw of an animal; -- commonly in the pl. See Chops.
• (n.) A movable jaw or cheek, as of a wooden vise.
• (v.i.) To exchange; substitute one thing for another.
• (v.t.&i.) To crack. See Chap, v. t. & i.
• (n.) A permit or clearance.
• (v.t.) To seize or devour greedily; -- with up.
• (v.i.) To do something suddenly with an unexpected motion; to catch or attempt to seize.
• (n.) The act of chopping; a stroke.
• (n.) A crack or cleft. See Chap.
• (v.t.) To cut by striking repeatedly with a sharp instrument; to cut into pieces; to mince; -- often with up.
• (v.i.) To purchase by way of truck.
• (v.i.) To wrangle; to altercate; to bandy words.
• (n.) A change; a vicissitude.
• (v.i.) To vary or shift suddenly; as, the wind chops about.
• (v.t.) To sever or separate by one more blows of a sharp instrument; to divide; -- usually with off or down.