Decrease and Shrinking

decrease

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

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

shrinking

Process or result of becoming less or smaller.
- usage: "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage"
- synonyms: shrinkage
The act of becoming less.

Wither, as with a loss of moisture.
- usage: "The fruit dried and shriveled"
- synonyms: shrivel, shrivel up, shrink, wither
Draw back, as with fear or pain.
- usage: "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
- synonyms: flinch, squinch, funk, cringe, shrink, wince, recoil, quail
Reduce in size; reduce physically.
- usage: "Hot water will shrink the sweater"; "Can you shrink this image"
- synonyms: shrink, reduce
Become smaller or draw together.
- usage: "The fabric shrank"; "The balloon shrank"
- synonyms: shrink, contract
Decrease in size, range, or extent.
- usage: "His earnings shrank"; "My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me"
- synonyms: shrink, shrivel

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary