Decrease and Deflate

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

• Collapse by releasing contained air or gas.
  • usage: "deflate a balloon"
• Release contained air or gas from.
  • usage: "deflate the air mattress"
• Reduce or lessen the size or importance of.
  • usage: "The bad review of his work deflated his self-confidence"
  • synonyms: puncture
• Produce deflation in.
  • usage: "The new measures deflated the economy"
• Reduce or cut back the amount or availability of, creating a decline in value or prices.
  • usage: "deflate the currency"
• Become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air.
  • usage: "The balloons deflated"

Deflate is the economic and financial process whereby the monetary and fiscal authorities act to stabilize or reverse an upward trend in general price levels. Monetarists would view this activity as decreasing the money supply.