Decrease and Idle

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 an engine or other mechanism that is idling.
  • usage: "the car engine was running at idle"

verb

• Run disconnected or idle.
  • usage: "the engine is idling"
  • synonyms: tick over
• Be idle; exist in a changeless situation.
  • usage: "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning"
  • synonyms: laze, slug, stagnate

adjective

• Not in action or at work.
  • usage: "an idle laborer"; "idle drifters"; "the idle rich"; "an idle mind"
• Without a basis in reason or fact.
  • usage: "baseless gossip"; "the allegations proved groundless"; "idle fears"; "unfounded suspicions"; "unwarranted jealousy"
  • synonyms: baseless, groundless, unfounded, unwarranted, wild
• Not in active use.
  • usage: "the machinery sat idle during the strike"; "idle hands"
  • synonyms: unused
• Silly or trivial.
  • usage: "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter"
  • synonyms: light
• Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility.
  • usage: "idle talk"; "a loose tongue"
  • synonyms: loose
• Not yielding a return.
  • usage: "dead capital"; "idle funds"
  • synonyms: dead
• Not having a job.
  • usage: "idle carpenters"; "jobless transients"; "many people in the area were out of work"
  • synonyms: jobless, out of work

• (superl.) Of no account; useless; vain; trifling; unprofitable; thoughtless; silly; barren.
• (v.t.) To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume; -- often followed by away; as, to idle away an hour a day.
• (superl.) Not called into active service; not turned to appropriate use; unemployed; as, idle hours.
• (superl.) Not employed; unoccupied with business; inactive; doing nothing; as, idle workmen.
• (superl.) Given rest and ease; averse to labor or employment; lazy; slothful; as, an idle fellow.
• (v.i.) To lose or spend time in inaction or without being employed in business.
• (superl.) Light-headed; foolish.