Decrease and Loss

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

• Something that is lost.
  • usage: "the car was a total loss"; "loss of livestock left the rancher bankrupt"
• Gradual decline in amount or activity.
  • usage: "weight loss"; "a serious loss of business"
• The act of losing someone or something.
  • usage: "everyone expected him to win so his loss was a shock"
• The disadvantage that results from losing something.
  • usage: "his loss of credibility led to his resignation"; "losing him is no great deprivation"
  • synonyms: deprivation
• The experience of losing a loved one.
  • usage: "he sympathized on the loss of their grandfather"
• The amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue.
  • usage: "the company operated at a loss last year"; "the company operated in the red last year"
  • synonyms: red ink, red
• Military personnel lost by death or capture.
  • synonyms: personnel casualty
• Euphemistic expressions for death.
  • usage: "thousands mourned his passing"
  • synonyms: passing, departure, exit, expiration, going, release

• (v.t.) The state of being lost or destroyed; especially, the wreck or foundering of a ship or other vessel.
• (v.t.) The act of losing; failure; destruction; privation; as, the loss of property; loss of money by gaming; loss of health or reputation.
• (v.t.) The state of losing or having lost; the privation, defect, misfortune, harm, etc., which ensues from losing.
• (v.t.) Destruction or diminution of value, if brought about in a manner provided for in the insurance contract (as destruction by fire or wreck, damage by water or smoke) or the death or injury of an insured person; also, the sum paid or payable therefor; as, the losses of the company this year amount to a million of dollars.
• (v.t.) That which is lost or from which one has parted; waste; -- opposed to gain or increase; as, the loss of liquor by leakage was considerable.
• (v.t.) Killed, wounded, and captured persons or captured property.
• (v.t.) Failure to gain or win; as, loss of a race or battle.
• (v.t.) Failure to use advantageously; as, loss of time.

(1) the situation in which money received from the sale of an item is less than the money previously spent to buy the item. (2) the excess of costs and expenses over income. (3) a category of classified assets. See: classification of assets.