Decrease and Dim

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

• Switch (a car's headlights) from a higher to a lower beam.
  • synonyms: dip
• Become dim or lusterless.
  • usage: "the lights dimmed and the curtain rose"
• Make dim or lusterless.
  • usage: "Time had dimmed the silver"
• Make dim by comparison or conceal.
  • synonyms: blind
• Become vague or indistinct.
  • usage: "The distinction between the two theories blurred"
  • synonyms: blur, slur

adjective

• Lacking in light; not bright or harsh.
  • usage: "a dim light beside the bed"; "subdued lights and soft music"
  • synonyms: subdued
• Lacking clarity or distinctness.
  • usage: "a dim figure in the distance"; "only a faint recollection"; "shadowy figures in the gloom"; "saw a vague outline of a building through the fog"; "a few wispy memories of childhood"
  • synonyms: faint, shadowy, vague, wispy
• Made dim or less bright.
  • usage: "the dimmed houselights brought a hush of anticipation"; "dimmed headlights"; "we like dimmed lights when we have dinner"
  • synonyms: dimmed
• Offering little or no hope.
  • usage: "the future looked black"; "prospects were bleak"; "Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult- J. M. Synge; "took a dim view of things"
  • synonyms: black, bleak
• Slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity.
  • usage: "so dense he never understands anything I say to him"; "never met anyone quite so dim"; "although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick- Thackeray; "dumb officials make some really dumb decisions"; "he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse"; "worked with the slow students"
  • synonyms: dense, dull, dumb, obtuse, slow

• (superl.) Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast; tarnished.
• (superl.) Of obscure vision; not seeing clearly; hence, dull of apprehension; of weak perception; obtuse.
• (v.t.) To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of.
• (v.t.) To render dim, obscure or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse.
• (v.i.) To grow dim.