decrease
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++de·crease1 /dɪˈkriːs/ ●●○ verb [intransitive, transitive] LESSto become less or go down to a lower level, or to make something do this （使）变小，（使）减少 → reduce OPP increase The number of people who have the disease has decreased significantly in recent years. 近年来，这种病的患者人数明显下降。 They want to decrease their reliance on oil. 他们想减少对石油的依赖。decrease by Average house prices decreased by 13% last year. 去年房屋均价下降了13%。decrease to By 1881, the population of Ireland had decreased to 5.2 million. 到1881年，爱尔兰的人口减少到了520万。decrease from The North’s share of the world’s energy consumption is expected to decrease from 70% to 60%. 北方发达国家所占的世界能源消耗比例有望从70%下降到60%。decrease in Attacks of asthma decrease in frequency through early adult life. 成年早期，哮喘的发病频率会降低。n GrammarDecrease belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object. • You can say: They decreased the number of buses. In this sentence, ‘the number of buses’ is the object of decrease.• You can say: The number of buses decreased. In this sentence, ‘the number of buses’ is the subject of decrease.n COLLOCATIONSadverbssignificantly (=enough to be an important change)Violent crime has significantly decreased over the last ten years.considerably/substantially (=a lot)During this period unemployment decreased considerably.markedly (=very noticeably)Aircraft collisions decreased markedly during the 1990s.rapidly (=very quickly)Since then, elephant numbers have been decreasing rapidly.dramatically (=suddenly and a lot)The survival rate decreases dramatically as the disease progresses.slightly (=a little)Population levels actually began to slightly decrease five years ago.steadily (=gradually and continuously)The proportion of adult cigarette smokers has been steadily decreasing. THESAURUSdecrease to become less in number or amount 减小；减少The average rainfall has decreased by around 30 percent. 平均降雨量已减少30%左右。go down to decrease. Go down is less formal than decrease and is the usual word to use in conversation 减小，减少〔与decrease相比不那么正式,常用于会话中〕Unemployment has gone down in the past few months. 在过去几个月里,失业人数下降了。decline formal to decrease – used with numbers or amounts, or about the level or standard of something 减小；减少〔与数字或数量连用,或用于描述某事物的程度或水平〕The standard of living has declined. 生活水准下降了。Support for the government is steadily declining. 政府支持率持续下降。Salaries have declined by around 4.5%. 工资减少了4.5%左右。diminish to become smaller or less important 减小；〔重要性〕减损Union membership diminished from 30,000 at its height to just 2,000 today. 工会会员数从最高峰时的30,000人减少到如今的区区2,000人。fall/drop to decrease, especially by a large amount. Fall and drop are less formal than decrease 〔尤指大量〕减少〔与decrease相比不那么正式〕The number of tigers in the wild has fallen to just over 10,000. 野生老虎的数量已下降到一万多一点。At night, the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees. 夜里,温度降至零下20度。plunge /plʌndʒ//plummet /ˈplʌmət/ to suddenly decrease very quickly and by a very large amount 猛跌Share prices have plummeted 29% in the last four months. 在过去四个月里,股价猛跌29%。Climate change could cause global temperatures to plummet. 气候变化可导致全球温度骤降。slide if a price or value slides, it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems – used especially in news reports 〔价格或价值〕下滑〔尤用于新闻报道〕The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning. 昨天纽约尾盘交易美元下跌,今天上午继续下滑。dwindle /ˈdwɪndl/ to gradually decrease until there is very little left of something, especially numbers or amounts, popularity, or importance 〔尤指数字、数量、支持率或重要性〕逐步减少Support for the theory is dwindling. 这一理论的支持度正在逐渐下降。taper off /ˈteɪpə $ -ər/ if a number or the amount of an activity that is happening tapers off, it gradually decreases, especially so that it stops completely 〔数字或活动的次数〕逐渐减少〔尤指完全终止〕Political violence tapered off after the elections. 大选过后,政治暴力逐渐减少。→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
decrease• Experts say that the time parents spend with their children is decreasing.• Histamine secretion was decreased about sixfold in all groups at day 7 compared with day 3.• Other complications of pregnancy were found to decrease almost linearly with age of women.• The second possibility is for supply to decrease and demand to increase.• Texaco had lifted capital spending 11 % last year, after decreasing it in 1993 and 1994.• Sales in Japan decreased last quarter.• This will increase rather than decrease pollution.• Their use decreased slightly in September, to 149 reported instances.• Birth control pills decrease the chances of getting pregnant.• Supplementary dietary phosphate decreased the fatty acid concentration only on the low calcium diet.• Better health education should help to decrease the incidence of heart disease.• Use of the new nets has significantly decreased the number of dolphins killed accidentally each year.• Various methods are being explored in order to decrease the volume of traffic on our roads.• The speed of rotation gradually decreases to zero.• They also delay sleep onset, increase the chances of waking after sleep onset occurs, and decrease total sleep time.decrease in• Some illnesses cause a decrease in appetite.• a 19% decrease in pricesde·crease2 /ˈdiːkriːs/ ●●○ noun [countable, uncountable] REDUCEthe process of becoming less, or the amount by which something becomes less 减少；减少的量 OPP increase SYN reductiona decrease in something Teachers reported decreases in drug use and verbal abuse of teachers. 教师们反映说吸毒和对教师的言语侮辱减少了。a decrease of 50/5% etc There has been a decrease of 1 degree in average temperature. 气温在持续下降。n THESAURUSdecrease used when the number, amount, or level of something becomes less than it used to beThere has been a significant decrease in the number of deaths from lung cancer.a 5% decrease in housing pricesreduction used when the price, amount, or level of something is made lowerThere will be further price reductions in the sales.A small reduction in costs can mean a large increase in profits.cut used when a government or company reduces the price, amount, or level of somethinga 1% cut in interest ratestax cutsIt is possible that there will be further job cuts.drop/fall used when the number, amount, or level of something goes down, especially by a large amountThe figures showed a sharp fall in industrial output.There was a dramatic drop in temperature.decline used when the number, amount, level, or standard of something goes down, especially graduallyDuring the 1970s, there was a gradual decline in the birthrate.a decline in educational standardsExamples from the Corpus
decrease• Fewer consumers will be reflected by a decrease in demand.• The Schirmer and break up time test confirmed a decrease of tear secretion.• It forecast a decrease of 5,000 for 1987-88; in fact, the decrease was 7,800.• When resorption overtakes formation, the result is a decrease in bone density and strength.• It focused on the fact that none of the trials showed a decrease in mortality within seven years of follow-up.• Mechanization has not therefore necessarily involved any decrease in job satisfaction among farm workers.• a 5 percent decrease in the value of the dollar• In the last five years there has been a significant decrease in the number of deaths from heart disease.• a significant decrease in the number of deaths from heart diseaseFrom Longman Business Dictionarydecreasede‧crease1 /dɪˈkriːs/ verb [intransitive, transitive] to go down to a lower level, or to make something do thisNetwork television viewing continues to decrease.The bank decreased its dividend to 15 cents from 31.25 cents a share. —decreasing adjective [only before a noun]The airline has been hurt by high fuel costs and decreasing passenger traffic.→ See Verb tabledecreasede‧crease2 /ˈdiːkriːs/ noun [countable, uncountable] the process of reducing something, or the amount by which it reducesdecrease inThe government announced a 25% decrease in the price of fuel.decrease ofIndustrial production last month rose 0.5%, after a decrease of 0.2% in December.Origin decrease1 (1300-1400) Anglo-French decreistre, from Latin decrescere, from crescere “to grow”de·crease1 verb →n GRAMMAR1 →n COLLOCATIONS1
→THESAURUS1de·crease2 noun →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
→THESAURUS1de·crease2 noun →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
to to down level, a lower Corpus or Business less become go
decrease
de‧crease1 /dɪˈkriːs/ 
verb [intransitive and transitive]
OPP increase:
The number of people who have the disease has decreased significantly in recent years.
They want to decrease their reliance on oil.
decrease by
Average house prices decreased by 13% last year.
decrease to
By 1881, the population of Ireland had decreased to 5.2 million.
decrease from
The North’s share of the world’s energy consumption is expected to decrease from 70% to 60%.
decrease in
Attacks of asthma decrease in frequency through early adult life.
■ adverbs
▪significantly (=enough to be an important change) Violent crime has significantly decreased over the last ten years.
▪considerably/substantially (=a lot) During this period unemployment decreased considerably.
▪markedly (=very noticeably) Aircraft collisions decreased markedly during the 1990s.
▪rapidly (=very quickly) Since then, elephant numbers have been decreasing rapidly.
▪dramatically (=suddenly and a lot) The survival rate decreases dramatically as the disease progresses.
▪slightly (=a little) Population levels actually began to slightly decrease five years ago.
▪steadily (=gradually and continuously) The proportion of adult cigarette smokers has been steadily decreasing.
▪ decrease to become less in number or amount: The average rainfall has decreased by around 30 percent.
▪go down to decrease. Go down is less formal than decrease and is the usual word to use in conversation: Unemployment has gone down in the past few months.
▪decline formal to decrease – used with numbers or amounts, or about the level or standard of something: The standard of living has declined. | Support for the government is steadily declining. | Salaries have declined by around 4.5%.
▪diminish to become smaller or less important: Union membership diminished from 30,000 at its height to just 2,000 today.
▪fall/drop to decrease, especially by a large amount. Fall and drop are less formal than decrease: The number of tigers in the wild has fallen to just over 10,000. | At night, the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees.
▪plunge /plʌndʒ//plummet /ˈplʌmət, ˈplʌmɪt/ to suddenly decrease very quickly and by a very large amount: Share prices have plummeted 29% in the last four months. | Climate change could cause global temperatures to plummet.
▪slide if a price or value slides, it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems – used especially in news reports: The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning.
▪dwindle /ˈdwɪndl/ to gradually decrease until there is very little left of something, especially numbers or amounts, popularity, or importance: Support for the theory is dwindling.
▪taper off /ˈteɪpə $ -ər/ if a number or the amount of an activity that is happening tapers off, it gradually decreases, especially so that it stops completely: Political violence tapered off after the elections.
de‧crease2 /ˈdiːkriːs/ noun [uncountable and countable]
the process of becoming less, or the amount by which something becomes less
OPP increase
SYN reduction
decrease in
Teachers reported decreases in drug use and verbal abuse of teachers.
decrease of
There has been a steady decrease of temperature.
▪ decrease used when the number, amount, or level of something becomes less than it used to be: There has been a significant decrease in the number of deaths from lung cancer. | a 5% decrease in housing prices
▪reduction used when the price, amount, or level of something is made lower: There will be further price reductions in the sales. | A small reduction in costs can mean a large increase in profits.
▪cut used when a government or company reduces the price, amount, or level of something: a 1% cut in interest rates | tax cuts | It is possible that there will be further job cuts.
▪drop/fall used when the number, amount, or level of something goes down, especially by a large amount: The figures showed a sharp fall in industrial output. | There was a dramatic drop in temperature.
▪decline used when the number, amount, level, or standard of something goes down, especially gradually: During the 1970s, there was a gradual decline in the birthrate. | a decline in educational standards
| I |
verb [intransitive and transitive] Date: 1300-1400
Language: Anglo-French
Origin: decreistre, from Latin decrescere, from crescere 'to grow'
to become less or go down to a lower level, or to make something do this ⇨ reduce Language: Anglo-French
Origin: decreistre, from Latin decrescere, from crescere 'to grow'
OPP increase:
decrease by
decrease to
decrease from
decrease in
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noun [uncountable and countable]the process of becoming less, or the amount by which something becomes less
OPP increase
SYN reduction
decrease in
decrease of
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rather
Houses 房屋
refurbish/renovate/ ( BrE do up a building/a house整修／翻新／修缮楼房／房屋 convert a building/house/room into homes/offices/( apartments/especially
NAmE ( flatsBrE 把楼房／房子／房间／改建成住房／办公室／公寓 extend/enlarge a house/building/room/kitchen扩建／扩大房屋／楼房／房间／厨房 build ( an extension (to the back/rear of a house)/BrE ( an addition (on/to sth)/NAmE ( a conservatoryBrE （在房子后面）扩建；（在某处）增建；建造暖房 knock down/demolish a house/home/building/wall推倒／拆除房子／住房／楼房／墙壁 knock out/through the wall separating two rooms将两个房间的隔墙打通
Decoration 装饰
furnish/paint/ ( especially
BrE decorate a home/a house/an apartment/a flat/a room布置／油漆／装饰住房／房子／公寓／房间 be decorated in bright colours/( colors/in a traditional style/with flowers/with paintingsespecially
用明亮的色彩／传统风格／花朵／绘画装饰 paint/plaster the walls/ceiling给墙壁／天花板上刷油漆／抹灰 hang/put up/strip off/remove the wallpaper贴／去除墙纸 install/replace/remove the bathroom fixtures/( fittingsBrE 安装／更换／拆除浴室的固定装置／附加设备 build/put up shelves搭架子 lay wooden flooring/timber decking/floor tiles/a carpet/a patio铺设木地板／平台木板／地砖／地毯／露台 put up/hang/take down a picture/painting/poster/curtain挂上／取下图画／绘画／海报／帘子
DIY/home improvement 自己动手；房屋改造
do ( DIY/carpentry/the plumbing/the wiringBrE 自己动手做；做木匠活；铺设管道；铺设线路 make home improvements改造房屋 add/install central heating/underfloor heating/insulation添加／安装中央供暖系统／地暖系统／隔热材料 fit/install double-glazing/a smoke alarm安装双层玻璃／烟雾报警器 insulate your house/your home/the walls/the pipes/the tanks/( the loftespecially
BrE 在房子／住房／墙壁／管道／热水箱／阁楼里加隔热装置 fix/repair a roof/a leak/a pipe/the plumbing/a leaking( tap/especially
BrE ( faucetNAmE usually
维修房顶／裂缝／管子／管道系统／漏水的水龙头 block/clog (up)/unblock/unclog a pipe/sink堵住／疏通管道／洗涤池 make/drill/fill a hole开／钻／填一个洞 hammer (in)/pull out/remove a nail锤进／拔出钉子 tighten/untighten/loosen/remove a screw拧紧／拧松／拧开螺丝钉 saw/cut/treat/stain/varnish/paint wood锯／切割／加工木料；给木料上色／上清漆／上油漆