Decrease and Rationalize

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

• Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning.
  • usage: "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
  • synonyms: apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalise
• Weed out unwanted or unnecessary things.
  • usage: "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet"
  • synonyms: cut, prune, rationalise
• Structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results.
  • usage: "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits"
  • synonyms: rationalise
• Think rationally; employ logic or reason.
  • usage: "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize"
  • synonyms: rationalise
• Remove irrational quantities from.
  • usage: "This function can be rationalized"
  • synonyms: rationalise

• (v.i.) To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism.
• (v.t.) To interpret in the manner of a rationalist.
• (v.t.) To form a rational conception of.
• (v.t.) To make rational; also, to convert to rationalism.
• (v.t.) To render rational; to free from radical signs or quantities.