Decrease and Erosion

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

• Geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it. ()
  • synonyms: eroding, eating away, wearing, wearing away
• Condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind.
• A gradual decline of something.
  • usage: "after the accounting scandal there was an erosion of confidence in the auditors"
• Erosion by chemical action.
  • synonyms: corrosion, corroding

• (n.) The act or operation of eroding or eating away.
• (n.) The state of being eaten away; corrosion; canker.
• (n.) The wearing away of the earth's surface by any natural process. The chief agent of erosion is running water; minor agents are glaciers, the wind, and waves breaking against the coast.

EROSION is the gradual diminishing of land or soil as a result of the action of water, wind, rain, etc.