Decrease and Squash

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

• Any of numerous annual trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits.
  • synonyms: squash vine
• Edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable.
• A game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets.
  • synonyms: squash racquets, squash rackets

verb

• To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition.
  • usage: "crush an aluminum can"; "squeeze a lemon"
  • synonyms: crush, squelch, mash, squeeze

• (n.) A game much like rackets, played in a walled court with soft rubber balls and bats like tennis rackets.
• (n.) A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
• (n.) Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease.
• (n.) An American animal allied to the weasel.
• (v.i.) To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
• (n.) Hence, something unripe or soft; -- used in contempt.
• (n.) A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita or gourd kind.