**decline**
**decline²** *n* [C usually sing.;U] a period or process of declining; movement to a lower or worse position: *There has been a sharp decline in profits this year. | The birthrate is on the* **decline.** (=getting lower)
**De,cline and ,Fall of the ,Roman 'Empire, The** (1776-88) a series of six historical books written by Edward Gibbon, which tell the story of the Roman Empire from the 1st century AD to the 15th century. It is regarded as one of the greatest historical works ever written in English.
**de·cliv·i·ty** /dı'klɪvəti/ *n fml* or tech a downward slope $\rightarrow$ compare ACCLIVITY
**de·code** /,di:'kəʊd/ *v* [T] to discover the meaning of (something written in a CODE): *We decoded the enemy's telegram.*
**dé·colle·tage** /,deɪkɒl'tɑ:ʒ || dər,kɑ:lə'tɑ:ʒ/ *n* **1** the parts of a woman's body, especially the breasts, which show when she wears a very low-cut dress **2** a top edge of a woman's dress that is cut very low to show part of the shoulders, chest, and breasts
**dé·col·leté** /deɪ'kɒlteɪ || deɪ,kɑ:lə'teɪ/ *adj* (especially of a dress) leaving uncovered part of the shoulders, chest, and breasts
**de·col·o·nize** also **-nise** *BrE* /,di:'kɒlənaɪz || -'kɑ:-/ *v* [T] to give political independence to (a former COLONY) **--nization** /,di:kɒlənaɪ'zeɪʃən || -kɑ:lənə-/ *n* [U]
**de·com·mis·sion** /,di:kə'mɪʃən/ *v* [T] to stop using a ship, weapon, or NUCLEAR REACTOR and to take it to pieces
**de·com·pose** /,di:kəm'pəʊz/ *v* [I;T] **1** to (cause to) decay: *decomposed vegetable matter* **2** to (cause to) break up and separate into simple parts: *to decompose a chemical compound* **--position** /,di:kɒmpə'zɪʃən || -kɑ:m-/ *n* [U]
**de·com·press** /,di:kəm'pres/ *v* [T] to reduce the pressure of air on **--ion** /-'preʃən/ *n* [U] *decompression sickness | Deep-sea divers get back to normal air pressure by going through a decompression chamber.*
**de·con·gest·ant** /,di:kən'dʒestənt/ *n* a medicine that reduces swelling and blocking, especially in the nose
**de·con·tam·i·nate** /,di:kən'tæmɪneɪt/ *v* [T] to remove dangerous (e.g. RADIOACTIVE) substances from **--nation** /-,tæmɪ'neɪʃən/ *n* [U]
**de·con·trol** /,di:kən'trəʊl/ *v -ll-* [T] to end control of: *to decontrol prices*
**dé·cor** /'deɪkɔ: || deɪ'kɔ:r/ *n* [C;U] the decorative furnishing and arranging of a place, especially a room, house, or stage: *It's a good restaurant, but I don't really like the décor.*
**dec·o·rate** /'dekəreɪt/ *v* **1** [T(with)] to provide with something that is added because it is attractive or beautiful, and not because it is necessary: *The streets were decorated with flags. | to decorate a cake with icing* **2** [I;T] to paint or put paper etc on the walls of a house: *How much will it cost to decorate the kitchen? | We spent the weekend decorating.* **3** [T(for)] to give (someone) an official mark of honour, such as a MEDAL: *They were decorated for outstanding bravery.*
> **USAGE** **Decorate, adorn, embellish,** and **garnish** all mean 'to add something to, so as to make more attractive'. **Decorate** is usually used of places and buildings: *The children decorated the house for Christmas.* **Adorn** (rather *fml* or *lit*) is usually used of people: *She adorned herself with jewels.* **Embellish** often has a figurative meaning: *He embellished the story to make it more amusing.* **Garnish** is most often used of cooking: *a fried fish garnished with pieces of tomato.*
**dec·o·ra·tion** /,dekə'reɪʃən/ *n* **1** [U] the act or art of decorating **2** [C often pl.] something that decorates; ORNAMENT: *Christmas decorations* **3** [C] something given as a sign of honour, especially a military MEDAL
**dec·o·ra·tive** /'dekərətɪv || 'dekərə-, 'dekəreɪ-/ *adj* used for decorating; ORNAMENTAL: *a decorative gold table* **--ly** *adv*
**dec·o·ra·tor** /'dekəreɪtə/ *n* **1** a person who paints houses inside and out: *I can't come and see you this week - I've got the decorators in.* **2** an INTERIOR DECORATOR
**dec·o·rous** /'dekərəs/ *adj fml* (of appearance or behaviour) correct; showing proper respect for the manners and customs of society **--ly** *adv*
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**de·co·rum** /dı'kɔ:rəm/ *n* [U] correct and respectful behaviour or appearance; PROPRIETY; a word used mainly by older people: *I hope you will behave with suitable decorum at the funeral.*
**de·coy¹** /'di:kɔɪ/ *n* **1** a person or thing that is used for tricking someone or getting them into a dangerous position; a word used especially in police or military operations **2** a model of a bird that is used for attracting wild birds within range of guns: *a decoy duck*
**de·coy²** /dı'kɔɪ/ *v* [T(into)] to deceive (a person) into a position of danger: *They decoyed him into a dark street, where they robbed him.*
**de·crease¹** /dı'kri:s/ *v* [I;T] to (cause to) become less in size, amount, strength, or quality; reduce: *Our sales are decreasing. | They are making further efforts to decrease military spending.* $\rightarrow$ opposite INCREASE
**de·crease²** /'di:krı:s/ *n* **1** [C;U] the process of decreasing **2** [C(in)] an amount by which something decreases: *a 6% decrease in his income*
**de·cree¹** /dı'kri:/ *n* **1** an official command or decision that has the force of law, especially one made by a king, a military government etc: *to issue a decree | [+that] a decree that political activity should be restricted | to forbid it by decree* **2** especially *AmE* a judgment of certain types in a court of law
**decree²** *v* [T] to order or judge officially, with the force of law: *to decree an end to the fighting | [+that] They have decreed that the fighting should end. | [+obj+adj] The committee decreed the film unsuitable for children.*
**de,cree 'absolute** *n pl.* **decrees absolute** *BrE law* an order by a court that officially ends the marriage of two people, each of whom is then free to marry again: *My decree absolute comes through next week.* $\rightarrow$ see also DECREE NISI
**decree ni·si** /dı,kri: 'naɪsaɪ/ *n pl.* **decrees nisi** *BrE law* an order by a court that a marriage will be ended at a certain future time (usually after six weeks) if there is no good reason why it should not end, e.g. both people have changed their mind $\rightarrow$ see also DECREE ABSOLUTE
**de·crep·it** /dı'krepɪt/ *adj* weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use: *a decrepit old man/old chair*
**de·crep·i·tude** /dı'krepɪtju:d || -tu:d/ *n* [U] *fml* the quality of being decrepit
**de·crim·in·al·ize** also **-ise** *BrE* /di:'krɪmɪnəlaɪz/ *v* [T] to state officially that something is not illegal any more: *the campaign to decriminalize cannabis* **--ization** /,di:krɪmɪnəlaɪ'zeɪʃən || -nəl-ə-/ *n* [U]
**de·cry** /dı'kraɪ/ *v* [T] *fml* to speak disapprovingly of; say bad things about (especially something dangerous to the public): *to decry the violence of modern films*
**ded·i·cate** /'dedɪkeɪt/ *v* [T] to give to a holy purpose, often with a solemn ceremony: *The new church will be dedicated on Sunday.*
**dedicate sbdy./sthg. to sbdy./sthg.** *phr v* [T] **1** to give completely to (a particular cause, purpose, or action); DEVOTE to: *The doctor dedicated her life/herself to finding a cure.* **2** to declare (a book, performance etc) to be in honour of (a person); *He dedicated his first book to his mother.*
**ded·i·cat·ed** /'dedɪkeɪtɪd/ *adj* **1** [(to)] (especially of people) very interested in or working very hard for an idea, purpose etc; COMMITTED: *She's very dedicated to her work. | a dedicated doctor | This organization is dedicated to overthrowing democracy.* **2** [no comp.] *tech* (especially of a computer or a computer PROGRAM) intended to be used for one particular purpose: *a dedicated word-processor* **--ly** *adv*
**ded·i·ca·tion** /,dedɪ'keɪʃən/ *n* **1** [C;U] the act of dedicating **2** [C;U] the quality of being dedicated, especially in an unselfish way: *They worked with great dedication to find a cure for cancer.* **3** [C] the words used in dedicating a book or performance to someone
**de·duce** /dı'dju:s || dı'du:s/ *v* [T(from)] *fml* to reach a decision or judgment about (a fact or situation) by using one's knowledge or reason; INFER: *What did Darwin deduce from the presence of these species in the Galapagos? | [+that] The police deduced that the murder had been committed by a woman.* $\rightarrow$ see also DEDUCTION, DEDUCTIVE **--ducible** *adj*
**de·duct** /dı'dʌkt/ *v* [T(from)] to take away (an amount, a part)