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de|crease (decreases , decreasing , decreased ) The verb is pronounced /d I kriː s/. The noun is pronounced /diː kriːs/. 1 VERB When something decreases or when you decrease it, it becomes less in quantity, size, or intensity. □ [V + by ] Population growth is decreasing by 1.4% each year. □ [V + from/to ] The number of independent firms decreased from 198 to 96. □ [V amount] Raw-steel production by the nation's mills decreased 2.1% last week. □ [V + in ] Since 1945 air forces have decreased in size. □ [V n] Gradually decrease the amount of vitamin C you are taking. □ [V -ing] We've got stable labor, decreasing interest rates, low oil prices.

2 N‑COUNT A decrease in the quantity, size, or intensity of something is a reduction in it. □ [+ in ] …a decrease in the number of young people out of work. □ [+ of ] Bank base rates have fallen from 10 per cent to 6 per cent–a decrease of 40 per cent.

de|cree /d I kriː / (decrees , decreeing , decreed )

1 N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A decree is an official order or decision, especially one made by the ruler of a country. □  In July he issued a decree ordering all unofficial armed groups in the country to disband.

2 VERB If someone in authority decrees that something must happen, they decide or state this officially. □ [V that] The U.N. Security Council has decreed that the election must be held by May. □ [V n] The king decreed a general amnesty.

3 N‑COUNT A decree is a judgment made by a law court. [mainly AM ] □  …court decrees.

de|cree a b|so|lute (decrees absolute ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A decree absolute is the final order made by a court in a divorce case which ends a marriage completely.

de|cree nisi /d I kriː na I sa I / (decrees nisi ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A decree nisi is an order made by a court which states that a divorce must take place at a certain time in the future unless a good reason is produced to prevent this.

de|crep|it /d I kre p I t/ ADJ Something that is decrepit is old and in bad condition. Someone who is decrepit is old and weak. □  The film had been shot in a decrepit old police station.

de|crepi|tude /d I kre p I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Decrepitude is the state of being very old and in poor condition. [FORMAL ] □  The building had a general air of decrepitude and neglect.

de|crimi|nal|ize /diː kr I m I nəla I z/ (decriminalizes , decriminalizing , decriminalized ) in BRIT, also use decriminalise VERB When a criminal offence is decriminalized , the law changes so that it is no longer a criminal offence. □ [be V -ed] …the question of whether prostitution should be decriminalized. [Also V n] ●  de|crimi|nali|za|tion /diː kr I m I nəla I ze I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] We urged the Government to consider decriminalisation of personal drug possession.

de|cry /d I kra I / (decries , decrying , decried ) VERB If someone decries an idea or action, they criticize it strongly. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He is impatient with those who decry the scheme. □ [V n + as ] People decried the campaign as a waste of money.

dedi|cate /de d I ke I t/ (dedicates , dedicating , dedicated )