Decrease and Dam

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 barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea.
  • synonyms: dike, dyke
• A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.
  • synonyms: decameter, dekameter, decametre, dekametre, dkm
• Female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock.

verb

• Obstruct with, or as if with, a dam.
  • usage: "dam the gorges of the Yangtse River"
  • synonyms: dam up

• (n.) A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; especially, a bank of earth or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water.
• (n.) A female parent; -- used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.
• (n.) A firebrick wall or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.
• (v.t.) To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; -- generally used with in or up.
• (n.) A kind or crowned piece in the game of draughts.
• (v.t.) To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.