Decrease and Complement

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

• A word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction.
• A complete number or quantity.
  • usage: "a full complement"
• Number needed to make up a whole force.
  • usage: "a full complement of workers"
  • synonyms: full complement
• Something added to complete or embellish or make perfect.
  • usage: "a fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner"; "wild rice was served as an accompaniment to the main dish"
  • synonyms: accompaniment
• One of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response.
• Either of two parts that mutually complete each other.

verb

• Make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to.
  • usage: "I need some pepper to complement the sweet touch in the soup"

• (v.t.) To supply a lack; to supplement.
• (v.t.) The whole working force of a vessel.
• (v.t.) Something added for ornamentation; an accessory.
• (v.t.) To compliment.
• (v.t.) A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity.
• (v.t.) A compliment.
• (v.t.) Full quantity, number or amount; a complete set; completeness.
• (v.t.) The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.
• (v.t.) That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.
• (v.t.) That which is required to supply a deficiency or to complete a symmetrical whole.