Decrease and Prevent

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.

verb

• Keep from happening or arising; make impossible.
  • usage: "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project"
  • synonyms: forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid
• Stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state.
  • usage: "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles"
  • synonyms: keep

• (v.t.) To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart.
• (v.t.) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.
• (v.t.) To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct.
• (v.i.) To come before the usual time.