Decrease and Extinction

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

• No longer active; extinguished.
  • usage: "the extinction of the volcano"
• No longer in existence.
  • usage: "the extinction of a species"
  • synonyms: defunctness
• The reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation.
• Complete annihilation.
  • usage: "they think a meteor cause the extinction of the dinosaurs"
  • synonyms: extermination
• A conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus.
  • synonyms: experimental extinction
• The act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning.
  • usage: "the extinction of the lights"
  • synonyms: extinguishing, quenching

• (n.) The act of extinguishing or making extinct; a putting an end to; the act of putting out or destroying light, fire, life, activity, influence, etc.
• (n.) State of being extinguished or of ceasing to be; destruction; suppression; as, the extinction of life, of a family, of a quarrel, of claim.