DECREASING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does decreasing mean? 

• DECREASING (adjective)
  The adjective DECREASING has 2 senses:

1. becoming less or smaller

2. (music) decreasing in tempo and/or volume

  Familiarity information: DECREASING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECREASING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Becoming less or smaller

Similar:

depreciating; depreciative; depreciatory (tending to decrease or cause a decrease in value)

detractive (causing to decrease in importance or value)

diminishing (becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so)

dwindling; tapering; tapering off (gradually decreasing until little remains)

falling (decreasing in amount or degree)

Antonym:

increasing (becoming greater or larger)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(music) decreasing in tempo and/or volume

Similar:

allargando ((music) gradually decreasing in tempo and broadening in manner)

calando ((music) gradually decreasing in tempo and volume)

decrescendo; diminuendo ((music) gradually decreasing in volume)

rallentando; rit.; ritardando; ritenuto ((music) gradually decreasing in tempo)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Antonym:

increasing ((music) increasing in tempo and/or volume)

 Context examples 

The scientists observed a long-term trend of decreasing woodlands and increasing shrublands.

(Land cover change in Botswana savannas: Don't blame the elephants, National Science Foundation)

This sequence alteration in the cytochrome P450 2C8*2 protein increases the Km of this enzyme for paclitaxel, thereby decreasing the clearance of this drug.

(CYP2C8*2 Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This alteration in the cytochrome P450 2C9*5 protein sequence increases the Km of this enzyme for (S)-warfarin, diclofenac, and lauric acid, thereby decreasing clearance of these drugs.

(CYP2C9*5 Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Dantrolene depresses excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle by binding to the ryanodine receptor 1, and decreasing intracellular calcium concentration.

(Dantrolene, NCI Thesaurus)

In turn, as part of the negative feedback mechanism, reduced furin protein levels inhibit TGFbeta1 and TGFbeta2 gene expression, thereby further decreasing TGF levels.

(bi-shRNA-Furin/GM-CSF-Expressing Autologous Tumor Cell Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)

Betaxolol selectively and competitively binds to and blocks beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart, thereby decreasing cardiac contractility and rate.

(Betaxolol, NCI Thesaurus)

Vaccination with ALVAC-CEA (VCP248) may stimulate the host immune system to mount a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against CEA-positive tumor cells, thereby decreasing tumor growth.

(ALVAC-CEA (VCP248), NCI Thesaurus)

Analgesics act by various mechanisms including binding with opioid receptors and decreasing inflammation.

(Analgesic Agent, NCI Thesaurus)

It is used mostly in ophthalmic preparations for decreasing intraocular pressure.

(Apraclonidine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

It reduces exercise heart rates and delays atrioventricular conduction, with overall oxygen requirements decreasing.

(Atenolol, NCI Thesaurus)