vt. & vi.（使）缩短；减小，减少 (cause to) become shorter, smaller, less

　～ by 3 times　减少三倍
　～ by 5 tons　减少五吨
　～ by ten percent　减少百分之十
　～ in number　数目减少
　～ to　减少到

　The traffic accidents in the city decreased last year.　该城市去年交通事故减少了。
　The population began to decrease.　人口开始减少。
　Interest in the sport is decreasing.　人们对此项运动的兴趣已逐渐减退。
　They decreased the size of the group from 25 to 15.　他们把小组的人数从25人减少到15人。

 ♣ decrease, diminish, lessen, reduce
　参见reduce条。

1. U 减小，降低　 reduction
2. C 减少（量） amount by which sth decreases

　gradual ～　逐渐下降
　sharp ～　急剧下降
　slight ～　略微减少
　steady ～　稳定下降
　on the ～　在减少
　～ in　在…方面的减少
　～ in production　生产下降
　～ to three hundred　减少到300

　The decrease in sales was almost 20 percent.　销售量差不多减少了20%。
　There has been a decrease in exports.　出口货物有所减少。
　Is crime on the decrease?　犯罪案件是否在减少?

　［派生词］ decreased adj.减少的
　［同义词］ v. abate, diminish, reduce
　［反义词］ v. augment, boost, increase n. boost, increase
　［词源］中古英语decresen（减少，缩减）