Decrease and Deaden

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

• Make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible.
  • usage: "muffle the message"
  • synonyms: dampen, damp
• Cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients.
  • usage: "girdle the plant"
  • synonyms: girdle
• Make vapid or deprive of spirit.
  • usage: "deadened wine"
• Lessen the momentum or velocity of.
  • usage: "deaden a ship's headway"
• Become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor.
• Make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation.
  • usage: "Terror blunted her feelings"; "deaden a sound"
  • synonyms: blunt
• Convert (metallic mercury) into a grey powder consisting of minute globules, as by shaking with chalk or fatty oil. .