(1)减少(弱)(become less)[I]：～gradually/sharply 逐渐/急剧减少;The storm's fury is～ing. 暴风雨的强度正在减弱。Light～s as evening comes on. 夜晚降临，光线减弱。The value of money～s during inflation. 通货膨胀期间货币贬值。〖同〗decrease;〖反〗increase;

(2)减少(轻)(make less;reduce)[T+n]：～the impact/risk/likelihood of sth减轻(少)某事的影响/风险/可能性;～tension 缓和紧张局势;～the sentence of a convicted man 给犯人减刑;～production costs 降低生产成本;His apology～ed my anger. 他的道歉消解了我的怒气。The number was～ed by 20%. 数量减少了20%。〖同〗decrease;〖反〗increase，raise;

(3)贬低，缩小(cause to seem small or unimportant;make little of)[T+n]：I don't want to～the services he has rendered. 我不想贬低他的贡献。～the difference between the city and the countryside gradually 逐渐缩小城乡差别;

←less det;pron;adv & prep