lessening


Also found in: Thesaurus.
Related to lessening: listening

less·en

 (lĕs′ən)
v. less·ened, less·en·ing, less·ens
v.tr.
1. To make less; reduce. See Synonyms at decrease.
2. Archaic To make little of; belittle.
v.intr.
To become less; decrease: interest that lessened as the lecture continued.
[Middle English lessen, lessenen, from lesse, less; see less.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

lessening

(ˈlɛsənɪŋ)
n
the action of making or becoming less
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.lessening - a change downwardlessening - a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
decrease, drop-off
alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"
shrinkage, shrinking - process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage"
casualty - a decrease of military personnel or equipment
sinking - a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength); "after several hours of sinking an unexpected rally rescued the market"; "he could not control the sinking of his legs"
attrition - a wearing down to weaken or destroy; "a war of attrition"
dwindling, dwindling away - a becoming gradually less; "there is no greater sadness that the dwindling away of a family"
waning - a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent; "the waning of his enthusiasm was obvious"; "the waxing and waning of the moon"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

lessening

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations

lessening

[ˈlesnɪŋ] N → disminución f, reducción f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

lessening

n → Nachlassen nt (→ in sth +gen); lessening of value → Wertabnahme f; a lessening in the rate of inflation → ein Rückgang m → or eine Verringerung der Inflationsrate
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

lessening

[ˈlɛsnɪŋ] n → diminuzione f
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
Partly from its peculiar colour, partly from a superstition which represented it as feeling the influence of the deity whom it adorned, and growing and lessening in lustre with the waxing and waning of the moon, it first gained the name by which it continues to be known in India to this day--the name of THE MOONSTONE.
View in context
You don't find your fancy kind o' lessening for this chap, do you?"
View in context
We cannot doubt that each structure is of use to each kind of squirrel in its own country, by enabling it to escape birds or beasts of prey, or to collect food more quickly, or, as there is reason to believe, by lessening the danger from occasional falls.
View in context
"They are an uncommonly handsome pair," he said, "and if they are as good as they look I am sure you need not wish for anything better; but I see you still hold that pet scheme of yours for worrying your horses and lessening their power."
View in context
Dashwood could penetrate, and at last, without saying a word, quitted the room, and walked out towards the village--leaving the others in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on a change in his situation, so wonderful and so sudden;--a perplexity which they had no means of lessening but by their own conjectures.
View in context
When skimming was done--which, as the milk diminished with the approach of autumn, was a lessening process day by day--Retty and the rest went out.
View in context
"The commencement of Phase II review of the transaction does not mean that MAO (Mergers and Acquisitions Office) has made a definitive finding of a substantial lessening of competition or has prejudged the result of the review.
PCC deepens review of GSK-Pfizer deal
The country's finance minister requested global credit rating agencies to reflect lessening geopolitical tension in its sovereign ratings.
Finance minister seeks upgrading of sovereign credit ratings
On at least two occasions, the Commission has had to undertake such a review where the transactions are likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition.
PCC merger review as tool for competitive markets, consumer welfare
The market might suffer from the 'substantial lessening of competition' once Grab completes its takeover of rival Uber in the country, according to the complete copy of a recent order of the country's antitrust body.
Grab-Uber deal seen to curtail competition
Labuan Corporation (LC) in a statement today said the subsidy given since 2014 was aimed at lessening the burden of travellers (Malaysian citizens) commuting by sea transport from and to the island.
RM11m subsidy for Labuan-Sabah, Sarawak sea travel continues

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?