decrease

decrease, diminish, lessen, reduce, dwindle

这些词的共同含义是“减少，变少”。
decrease: 指逐渐地、不断地减少。
diminish: 侧重大小、数量和重要性的不断减小，强调减小的部分。
lessen: 普通用词，与decrease近义。指数目、程度、价值、实力等的减少。
reduce: 普通用词，含义广。指数量、程度的降低或减少。
dwindle: 与decrease同义，指逐渐减小，但强调变得越来越少终至全无。

名词 decrease:

1. a change downward
   同义词：lessening, drop-off
2. a process of becoming smaller or shorter
   同义词：decrement
3. the amount by which something decreases
   同义词：decrement
4. the act of decreasing or reducing something
   同义词：diminution, reduction, step-down

动词 decrease:

1. decrease in size, extent, or range
   同义词：diminish, lessen, fall
2. make smaller
   同义词：lessen, minify

1. There has been a steady decrease in population in this city.
   这个城市的人口在持续下降。
2. They are making further efforts to decrease military spending.
   他们正在做进一步的努力来减少军费开支。
3. His interest in this subject gradually decreases.
   他对这门学科的兴趣逐渐减退。

de.crease

v.intr.tr.（不及物动词和及物动词）
de.creased,de.creas.ing,de.creas.es
To grow or cause to grow gradually less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity.
减少：在数目、数量或强度方面逐渐变得或使…变得少或小
n.（名词）

The act or process of decreasing.
减少：减小、减少的过程
The amount by which something decreases.
减少量，减少额

来源：
Middle English decresen
中古英语 decresen
from Old French decreistre decreiss-
源自 古法语 decreistre decreiss-
from Latin dôcrôscere
源自 拉丁语 dôcrôscere
dô- [de-]
dô- [除去]
crôscere [to grow] * see ker- 2
crôscere [增长] *参见 ker- 2

【引伸】
decreas.ingly
adv.（副词）
<参考词汇><同义词>decrease,lessen,reduce,dwindle,abate,diminish,subsideThese verbs mean to become or cause to become smaller or less.
这些动词的意义为变得或使…变得小或少。
Decrease and lessen, interchangeable in most contexts, refer to steady or gradual diminution:
Decrease 和 lessen 在大多数上下文中可互换， 指稳定或逐步的减少：
例句：
Traffic decreases on holidays.
节假日行人车辆减少了。

例句：
Lack of success decreases confidence.
失败使信心渐减。

例句：
Use your seat belt to lessen the danger of injury in an accident.
系上座椅安全带，减少交通事故中受伤的危险。

例句：
His appetite lessens as his illness progresses.
随着病情的加重，他的食欲下降了。

Reduce emphasizes bringing down, as in size, degree, or intensity:
Reduce 强调在大小、程度或强度方面下降或减少：
例句：
The workers reduced their wage demands.
工人们降低了他们在工资方面的要求。

Dwindle suggests decreasing bit by bit to a vanishing point:
Dwindle 含有一点一点减少直到消失的意思：
例句：
Their savings dwindled away.
他们的积蓄一点点地消耗殆尽了。

Abate stresses a decrease in amount or intensity and suggests a reduction of excess:
Abate 强调在数量或强度方面减少，含有去除多余的数量的意思：
例句：
Toward evening the fire began to abate.
快到傍晚的时候，火势减弱了。

例句：
Nothing can abate the force of that argument.
什么也不能减弱那场辩论的影响力。

Diminish implies taking away or removal:
Diminish 含有拿走或除去的意思：
例句：
An occasional outburst didn`t diminish my respect for her.
偶尔的一次发火并未减少我对她的尊敬。

例句：
The warden`s authority diminished after the revolt.
典狱长的权威在动乱后下降了。

Subside implies a falling away to a more normal level:
Subside 含有降到一个更正常的水平的意思：
例句：
The wild enthusiasm the team`s victory aroused did not subside.
那支球队的胜利所激起的狂热之情没有消退