Decrease and Declination

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 condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state.
  • synonyms: decline
• A downward slope or bend.
  • synonyms: descent, declivity, fall, decline, declension, downslope
• Astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial body north or to the south of the celestial equator; expressed in degrees; used with right ascension to specify positions on the celestial sphere.
  • synonyms: celestial latitude, dec
• A polite refusal of an invitation.
  • synonyms: regrets

• (n.) The act of inflecting a word; declension. See Decline, v. t., 4.
• (n.) The act or state of bending downward; inclination; as, declination of the head.
• (n.) The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline.
• (n.) The act or state of declining or refusing; withdrawal; refusal; averseness.
• (n.) The angular distance of any object from the celestial equator, either northward or southward.
• (n.) The act of deviating or turning aside; oblique motion; obliquity; withdrawal.
• (n.) The arc of the horizon, contained between the vertical plane and the prime vertical circle, if reckoned from the east or west or between the meridian and the plane, reckoned from the north or south.

(DoD, NATO) The angular distance to a body on the celestial sphere measured north or south through 90 degrees from the celestial equator along the hour circle of the body. Comparable to latitude on the terrestrial sphere. See also magnetic declination; magnetic variation.