Definition of decline - WordReference.com Dictionary

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decline:

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Adapted From: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

decline
A	noun
	1	descent, declivity, fall, decline, declination, declension, downslope
			a downward slope or bend
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚natural object ╚geological formation; formation ╚slope; incline; side ╚descent, declivity, fall, decline, declination, declension, downslope ╚steep ╚downhill
	2	decay, decline
			a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
		Category Tree: phenomenon ╚process ╚decrease; decrement ╚decay, decline ╚exponential decay; exponential return
	3	decline, diminution
			change toward something smaller or lower
		Category Tree: phenomenon ╚process ╚decrease; decrement ╚decline, diminution ╚slippage ╚sinking spell ╚loss ╚erosion ╚ebb; ebbing; wane ╚deterioration; decline in quality; declension; worsening
	4	decline, declination
			a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state
		Category Tree: state ╚condition; status ╚decline, declination ╚wreck ╚twilight ╚neglect; disuse
B	verb
	1	worsen, decline
			grow worse; "Conditions in the slum worsened"
		Category Tree: change ╚change state; turn ╚worsen, decline ╚suffer ╚slip; drop off; drop away; fall away ╚tumble ╚fail ╚deprive; impoverish ╚devolve; deteriorate; drop; degenerate ╚sicken; come down ╚inflame
	2	decline, go down, wane
			grow smaller; "Interest in the project waned"
		Category Tree: change ╚change magnitude ╚decrease; diminish; lessen; fall ╚decline, go down, wane ╚drop ╚wear on ╚dip
	3	refuse, decline
			show unwillingness towards; "he declined to join the group on a hike"
		Category Tree: act; move ╚react; respond ╚refuse, decline ╚disobey ╚repudiate ╚regret ╚contract out ╚reject; spurn; freeze off; scorn; pooh-pooh; disdain; turn down
	4	decline
			inflect for number, gender, case, etc., "in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives"
		Category Tree: change ╚modify ╚inflect ╚decline
	5	decline, slump, correct
			go down in value; "the stock market corrected"; "prices slumped"
		Category Tree: travel; go; move; locomote ╚descend; fall; go down; come down ╚decline, slump, correct
	6	decline
			go down; "The roof declines here"
		Category Tree: travel; go; move; locomote ╚descend; fall; go down; come down ╚drop ╚decline ╚dip; sink
	7	refuse, reject, pass up, turn down, decline
			refuse to accept; "He refused my offer of hospitality"

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Forum discussions with the word(s) 'decline' in the title:

Over the past two decades, the Corsicans ____ their idylic island, which was wrested by France from the Genoese in 1768, ___ into terrorism, corruption and economic decline.
"Decline" or "turn down"
decline x refuse
decline in/of???
decline/refuse
rural decline
fall, go down, come down, decline,
decline in emotional aptitude
note an overall decline n consumer spending...
the decline of the academic standards
...the reason for life quality decline
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