Decrease and Grind

decrease

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

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

grind

An insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious.
- synonyms: swot, nerd, wonk, dweeb
The grade of particle fineness to which a substance is ground.
- usage: "a coarse grind of coffee"
Hard monotonous routine work.
- synonyms: drudgery, plodding, donkeywork
The act of grinding to a powder or dust.
- synonyms: mill, pulverization, pulverisation

Press or grind with a crushing noise.
- synonyms: crunch, cranch, craunch
Make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together.
- usage: "grate one's teeth in anger"
- synonyms: grate
Work hard.
- usage: "She was digging away at her math homework"; "Lexicographers drudge all day long"
- synonyms: labor, labour, toil, fag, travail, drudge, dig, moil
Dance by rotating the pelvis in an erotically suggestive way, often while in contact with one's partner such that the dancers' legs are interlaced.
Reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading.
- usage: "grind the spices in a mortar"; "mash the garlic"
- synonyms: mash, crunch, bray, comminute
Created by grinding.
- usage: "grind designs into the glass bowl"
Shape or form by grinding.
- usage: "grind lenses for glasses and cameras"

(v.i.) To perform the operation of grinding something; to turn the millstones.
(v.i.) To perform hard aud distasteful service; to drudge; to study hard, as for an examination.
(v.t.) To oppress by severe exactions; to harass.
(v.i.) To become ground or pulverized by friction; as, this corn grinds well.
(v.t.) To wear down, polish or sharpen, by friction; to make smooth, sharp or pointed; to whet, as a knife or drill; to rub against one another, as teeth, etc.
(v.i.) To become polished or sharpened by friction; as, glass grinds smooth; steel grinds to a sharp edge.
(n.) The act of reducing to powder or of sharpening, by friction.
(v.t.) To study hard for examination.
(n.) A hard student; a dig.
(v.t.) To reduce to powder by friction, as in a mill or with the teeth; to crush into small fragments; to produce as by the action of millstones.
(n.) Any severe continuous work or occupation; especially, hard and uninteresting study.
(v.i.) To move with much difficulty or friction; to grate.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary