Decrease and Shortening

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

• Fat such as butter or lard used in baked goods.
• Act of decreasing in length.
  • usage: "the dress needs shortening"

verb

• Make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration.
  • usage: "He shortened his trip due to illness"
  • synonyms: shorten
• Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements.
  • usage: "The manuscript must be shortened"
  • synonyms: abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduce
• Make short or shorter.
  • usage: "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the rope by a few inches"
  • synonyms: shorten
• Become short or shorter.
  • usage: "In winter, the days shorten"
  • synonyms: shorten
• Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate.
  • usage: "bowdlerize a novel"
  • synonyms: bowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate, shorten

• (p.pr.&vb.n.) of Shorten.
• (n.) The act of making or becoming short or shorter.
• (n.) That which renders pastry short or friable, as butter, lard, etc.

Shortening is the reduction of the held duration for assets or liabilities. It can be intentional or the result of prepayments, events, or exercised options.