Definition of lessen - WordReference.com Dictionary

WordReference.com English Dictionary

lessen
A	verb
	1	decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
			decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fall to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
		Category Tree: change ╚change magnitude ╚decrease, diminish, lessen, fall ╚break ╚vanish; fly; vaporize ╚drop off ╚taper ╚shrink; shrivel ╚break
	2	subside, lessen
			wear off or die down; "The pain subsided"
		Category Tree: change ╚change magnitude ╚decrease; diminish; lessen; fall ╚weaken ╚subside, lessen
	3	decrease, lessen, minify
			make smaller; "He decreased his staff"
		Category Tree: change; alter; modify ╚decrease, lessen, minify ╚reduce; cut down; cut back; trim; trim down; trim back; cut; bring down ╚minimize; minimise ╚de-escalate; weaken; step down ╚turn down; lower; lour ╚slake; abate; slack ╚abridge; foreshorten; abbreviate; shorten; cut; contract; reduce ╚shrink; reduce ╚reduce; boil down; concentrate ╚limit; circumscribe; confine ╚pare; pare down ╚mitigate