Decrease and Sharpen

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

• Make sharp or sharper.
  • usage: "sharpen the knives"
• Make crisp or more crisp and precise.
  • usage: "We had to sharpen our arguments"
• Become sharp or sharper.
  • usage: "The debate sharpened"
• Put (an image) into focus.
  • usage: "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie"
  • synonyms: focus, focalize, focalise
• Make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper.
• Raise the pitch of (musical notes. )
• Give a point to.
  • usage: "The candles are tapered"
  • synonyms: taper, point
• Make (one's senses) more acute.
  • usage: "This drug will sharpen your vision"
  • synonyms: heighten

• (a.) To raise, as a sound, by means of a sharp; to apply a sharp to.
• (a.) To make sharp.
• (a.) To make more eager; as, to sharpen men's desires.
• (a.) To render more shrill or piercing.
• (v.i.) To grow or become sharp.
• (a.) To render more quick or acute in perception; to make more ready or ingenious.
• (a.) To make biting, sarcastic or severe.
• (a.) To make more tart or acid; to make sour; as, the rays of the sun sharpen vinegar.
• (a.) To give a keen edge or fine point to; to make sharper; as, to sharpen an ax or the teeth of a saw.
• (a.) To make more pungent and intense; as, to sharpen a pain or disease.