Decrease and Shrinkage

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

• Process or result of becoming less or smaller.
  • usage: "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage"
  • synonyms: shrinking
• The amount by which something shrinks.
• The act of stealing goods that are on display in a store.
  • usage: "shrinkage is the retail trade's euphemism for shoplifting"
  • synonyms: shoplifting

• (n.) Decrease in value; depreciation.
• (n.) The act of shrinking; a contraction into less bulk or measurement.
• (n.) The amount of such contraction; the bulk or dimension lost by shrinking, as of grain, castings, etc.

Is: 1. The amount by which something shrinks; 2. Process or result of becoming less or smaller (Example: "The material lost 2 inches per yard in' SHRINKAGE'"); or, 3. The act of stealing goods that are on display in a store (Example: "Shrinkage" is the retail trade's euphemism for shoplifting).