Decrease and Cultivate

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.

verb

• Foster the growth of.
• Prepare for crops.
  • usage: "Work the soil"; "cultivate the land"
  • synonyms: crop, work
• Teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment.
  • usage: "Cultivate your musical taste"; "Train your tastebuds"; "She is well schooled in poetry"
  • synonyms: educate, school, train, civilize, civilise
• Adapt (a wild plant or unclaimed land) to the environment.
  • usage: "domesticate oats"; "tame the soil"
  • synonyms: domesticate, naturalize, naturalise, tame

• (v.t.) To raise or produce by tillage; to care for while growing; as, to cultivate corn or grass.
• (v.t.) To direct special attention to; to devote time and thought to; to foster; to cherish.
• (v.t.) To seek the society of; to court intimacy with.
• (v.t.) To bestow attention, care, and labor upon, with a view to valuable returns; to till; to fertilize; as, to cultivate soil.
• (v.t.) To improve by labor, care or study; to impart culture to; to civilize; to refine.