Decrease and Halt

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

• The state of inactivity following an interruption.
  • usage: "the negotiations were in arrest"; "held them in check"; "during the halt he got some lunch"; "the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow"; "he spent the entire stop in his seat"
  • synonyms: arrest, check, hitch, stay, stop, stoppage
• The event of something ending.
  • usage: "it came to a stop at the bottom of the hill"
  • synonyms: stop
• An interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement.
  • usage: "a halt in the arms race"; "a nuclear freeze"
  • synonyms: freeze

verb

• Cause to stop.
  • usage: "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
  • synonyms: hold, arrest
• Come to a halt, stop moving.
  • usage: "the car stopped"; "She stopped in front of a store window"
  • synonyms: stop
• Stop from happening or developing.
  • usage: "Block his election"; "Halt the process"
  • synonyms: stop, block, kibosh
• Stop the flow of a liquid.
  • usage: "staunch the blood flow"; "stem the tide"
  • synonyms: stem, stanch, staunch

adjective

• Disabled in the feet or legs.
  • usage: "a crippled soldier"; "a game leg"
  • synonyms: crippled, halting, lame, gimpy, game

• (v.i.) To hold one's self from proceeding; to hold up; to cease progress; to stop for a longer or shorter period; to come to a stop; to stand still.
• (n.) The act of limping; lameness.
• (v.i.) To stand in doubt whether to proceed or what to do; to hesitate; to be uncertain.
• (a.) To have an irregular rhythm; to be defective.
• (a.) To walk lamely; to limp.
• (v.t.) To cause to cease marching; to stop; as, the general halted his troops for refreshment.
• (a.) Halting or stopping in walking; lame.
• 3d pers. sing. pres. of Hold, contraction for holdeth.
• (n.) A stop in marching or walking or in any action; arrest of progress.