Decrease vs Lighten - What's the difference?
decrease | lighten | Related terms |
Of a quantity, to become smaller.
To make (a quantity) smaller.
An amount by which a quantity is decreased.
(knitting) A reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch. See .
To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
To make light or lighter in weight.
To make less serious or more cheerful.
* Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5
To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
* Dryden
To become light or lighter in weight.
To become less serious or more cheerful.
To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
* Shakespeare
To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
* Shakespeare
To descend; to light.
* Book of Common Prayer
To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
* Sir J. Davies
Decrease is a related term of lighten.
In lang=en terms the difference between decrease and lighten
is that decrease is to make (a quantity) smaller while lighten is to emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.As verbs the difference between decrease and lighten
is that decrease is of a quantity, to become smaller while lighten is to alleviate; to reduce the burden of.As a noun decrease
is an amount by which a quantity is decreased.decrease
English
Verb
(decreas)Synonyms
* (become smaller) drop, fall, go down, plummet (rapidly), plunge (rapidly), reduce, shrink, sink * (make smaller) abate, cut, decrement, lower, reduceAntonyms
* (become larger) go up, grow, increase, rise, soar (rapidly), shoot up (rapidly) * (make larger) increase, increment, raise, up (informal)Noun
(en noun)Synonyms
* (amount by which a quantity is decreased) cut, decrement, drop, fall, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkageAntonyms
* (amount by which a quantity is decreased) gain, increase, increment, raise , riselighten
English
Verb
(en verb)- They looked unto him, were lightened .
- to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
- A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
- This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
- His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
- O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
- Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.