Decline
WordNet
noun
(1) A downward slope or bend
(2) A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
(3) Change toward something smaller or lower
(4) A condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state
verb
(5) Grow worse
"Conditions in the slum worsened"
(6) Grow smaller
"Interest in the project waned"
(7) Show unwillingness towards
"He declined to join the group on a hike"
(8) Inflect for number, gender, case, etc., "in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives"
(9) Go down in value
"The stock market corrected"
"Prices slumped"
(10) Go down
"The roof declines here"
(11) Refuse to accept
"He refused my offer of hospitality"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From < < < + }.
Noun
- Downward movement, fall.
- A sloping downward, e.g. of a hill or road.
- A weakening.
Verb
- To move downwards, to fall, to drop.
- The dollar has declined rapidly since 2001.
- To become weaker or worse.
- My health declined in winter.
- To list the inflected forms of a noun, pronoun (and in some languages adjective) for case and number.
- To refuse.
- On reflection I think I will decline your generous offer.