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2 decline

Function:

noun

Inflected forms:

plural declines

Meaning:

1 : the process of becoming worse in condition or quality [noncount] a period of economic decline He says that American industry is in a state of decline. There was a general feeling that the country was in decline. [=was becoming less powerful, wealthy, etc.] The town fell/went into decline after the factory closed down. [count] —usually singular He has experienced a decline in health. the decline and fall of the Roman empire The company's products suffered a decline in quality. a gradual physical/mental decline
2 : a change to a lower number or amount [count] The economy experienced a decline of two million jobs. We saw a sharp/steep decline in sales this month. Declines led advances at the end of the trading day. [noncount] There was some decline in stock prices at the end of the trading session.
on the decline
: becoming worse in condition or less in size, amount, number, etc. : declining His health is on the decline. Sales are on the decline.
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