Decrease and Slack

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

slack

Dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve.
A noticeable deterioration in performance or quality.
- usage: "the team went into a slump"; "a gradual slack in output"; "a drop-off in attendance"; "a falloff in quality"
- synonyms: slump, drop-off, falloff, falling off
A stretch of water without current or movement.
- usage: "suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless"
- synonyms: slack water
A soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot.
- synonyms: mire, quagmire, quag, morass
The quality of being loose (not taut. )
- usage: "he hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope"
- synonyms: slackness
A cord or rope or cable that is hanging loosely.
- usage: "he took up the slack"

Avoid responsibilities and work, be idle.
Be inattentive to, or neglect.
- usage: "He slacks his attention"
Release tension on.
- usage: "slack the rope"
Make less active or fast.
- usage: "He slackened his pace as he got tired"; "Don't relax your efforts now"
- synonyms: slacken, slack up, relax
Become slow or slower.
- usage: "Production slowed"
- synonyms: slow, slow down, slow up, slacken
Make less active or intense.
- synonyms: slake, abate
Become less in amount or intensity.
- usage: "The storm abated"; "The rain let up after a few hours"
- synonyms: abate, let up, slack off, die away
Cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water.
- usage: "slack lime"
- synonyms: slake

Not tense or taut.
- usage: "the old man's skin hung loose and grey"; "slack and wrinkled skin"; "slack sails"; "a slack rope"
- synonyms: loose
Flowing with little speed as e. G. At the turning of the tide.
- usage: "slack water"
Lacking in rigor or strictness.
- usage: "such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable"; "lax in attending classes"; "slack in maintaining discipline"
- synonyms: lax

(n.) Small coal; also, coal dust; culm.
(superl.) Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope.
(adv.) Slackly; as, slack dried hops.
(superl.) Weak; not holding fast; as, a slack hand.
(superl.) Not violent, rapid or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack.
(a.) Alternative of Slacken.
(v.t.) Alternative of Slacken.
(superl.) Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as, slack in duty or service.
(n.) A valley or small, shallow dell.
(n.) The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary