Decrease and Refinement

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

• A highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality."they performed with great polish"; "I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art-Joseph Conrad
  • synonyms: polish, culture, cultivation, finish
• The result of improving something.
  • usage: "he described a refinement of this technique"
  • synonyms: elaboration
• The process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc..
  • synonyms: refining, purification
• A subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude.
  • usage: "without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor"; "don't argue about shades of meaning"
  • synonyms: nuance, nicety, shade, subtlety
• The quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste.
  • usage: "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for his generosity and civilization"
  • synonyms: civilization, civilisation

• (n.) The act of refining or the state of being refined; as, the refinement or metals; refinement of ideas.
• (n.) That which is refined, elaborated or polished to excess; an affected subtilty; as, refinements of logic.