Decrease and Stroke

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

• Sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand. (
  • usage: "it took two strokes to get out of the bunker"; "a good shot requires good balance and tempo"; "he left me an almost impossible shot"
  • synonyms: shot
• The maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam.
  • synonyms: throw, cam stroke
• A sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.
  • synonyms: apoplexy, cerebrovascular accident, CVA
• A light touch.
• A light touch with the hands.
  • synonyms: stroking
• Golf) the unit of scoring in golf is the act of hitting the ball with a club. (
  • usage: "Nicklaus won by three strokes"
• The oarsman nearest the stern of the shell who sets the pace for the rest of the crew.
• Anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause.
  • usage: "winning the lottery was a happy accident"; "the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck"; "it was due to an accident or fortuity"
  • synonyms: accident, fortuity, chance event
• A punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information.
  • synonyms: solidus, slash, virgule, diagonal, separatrix
• A mark made on a surface by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush.
  • usage: "she applied the paint in careful strokes"
• Any one of the repeated movements of the limbs and body used for locomotion in swimming or rowing.
• A single complete movement.

verb

• Touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions.
  • usage: "He stroked his long beard"
• Strike a ball with a smooth blow.
• Row at a particular rate.
• Treat gingerly or carefully.
  • usage: "You have to stroke the boss"

• In croquet, etc., a shot or stroke in which one drives in different directions one's own and the opponent's ball placed in contact.
• (v.t.) Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay.
• (v.t.) To give a finely fluted surface to.
• (v.t.) Appetite.
• (v.t.) To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.
• (v.t.) The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; especially, a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand or with an instrument or weapon.
• (v.t.) A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking.
• (v.t.) The oar nearest the stern of a boat, by which the other oars are guided; -- called also stroke oar.
• (v.t.) A sudden attack of disease; especially, a fatal attack; a severe disaster; any affliction or calamity, especially a sudden one; as, a stroke of apoplexy; the stroke of death.
• (v.t.) To make smooth by rubbing.
• (v.t.) A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done, produced or accomplished; also, something done or accomplished by such an effort; as, a stroke of genius; a stroke of business; a master stroke of policy.
• (v.t.) The movement, in either direction, of the piston plunger, piston rod, crosshead, etc., as of a steam engine or a pump, in which these parts have a reciprocating motion; as, the forward stroke of a piston; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; as, the piston is at half stroke.
• (v.t.) The rower who pulls the stroke oar; the strokesman.
• (v.t.) The striking of the clock to tell the hour.
• (v.t.) A throb or beat, as of the heart.
• (v.t.) To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.
• (imp.) Struck.
• (v.t.) To strike.
• (v.t.) The rate of succession of stroke; as, a quick stroke.
• (v.t.) The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.
• (v.t.) A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil; as, an up stroke; a firm stroke.
• (v.t.) One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished; as, the stroke of a bird's wing in flying or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.
• (v.t.) Power; influence.