Decrease and Direction

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 line leading to a place or point.
  • usage: "he looked the other direction"; "didn't know the way home"
  • synonyms: way
• The spatial relation between something and the course along which it points or moves.
  • usage: "he checked the direction and velocity of the wind"
• A general course along which something has a tendency to develop.
  • usage: "I couldn't follow the direction of his thoughts"; "his ideals determined the direction of his career"; "they proposed a new direction for the firm"
• Something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action.
  • synonyms: guidance, counsel, counseling, counselling
• The act of managing something.
  • usage: "he was given overall management of the program"; "is the direction of the economy a function of government"
  • synonyms: management
• A message describing how something is to be done.
  • usage: "he gave directions faster than she could follow them"
  • synonyms: instruction
• The act of setting and holding a course.
  • usage: "a new council was installed under the direction of the king"
  • synonyms: steering, guidance
• A formal statement of a command or injunction to do something.
  • usage: "the judge's charge to the jury"
  • synonyms: commission, charge
• The concentration of attention or energy on something.
  • usage: "the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology"; "he had no direction in his life"
  • synonyms: focus, focusing, focussing, focal point, centering

• (n.) The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the direction of a letter.
• (n.) The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction o/ public affairs or of a bank.
• (n.) That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he grave directions to the servants.
• (n.) The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of directors.
• (n.) The pointing of a piece with reference to an imaginary vertical axis; -- distinguished from elevation. The direction is given when the plane of sight passes through the object.
• (n.) The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct line or course; as, the ship sailed in a southeasterly direction.

1. A document containing written instructions to a person to do a certain thing in a certain way. 2. A point on a compass, used in legal descriptions.

(DoD) In artillery and naval gunfire support, a term used by a spotter and/or observer in a call for fire to indicate the bearing of the spotting line. See also bearing; naval gunfire support; spotter; spotting line.