1 decline /dɪˈklaɪn/ verb declines; declined; declining
declines; declined; declining
Learner's definition of DECLINE
1
[no object] : to become lower in amount or less in number减少；下降 -
Oil prices continue to decline. [=decrease, fall]油价持续下跌。
-
The construction of new houses declined five percent this year.今年新房屋的建造减少了百分之五。
-
The animal's numbers are declining rapidly.这种动物的数量在迅速减少。
2
[no object] : to become worse in condition or quality恶化；衰退 -
The patient's condition has declined. [=worsened, deteriorated]病人的病情恶化了。
-
My grandmother's health has been declining since she broke her hip.自从摔断了髋骨，我祖母的健康每况愈下。
-
The civilization began to decline around 1000 B.C.公元前1000年前后，这一文明开始衰落。
3 somewhat formal
a [+ object] : to say that you will not or cannot do something拒绝 —
usually followed by to + verb通常接动词不定式 b : to say no to something in a polite way谢绝；婉言拒绝 [+ object]
-
Regretfully, we have to decline [=turn down] the invitation to your wedding.很遗憾，我们不得不婉言谢绝你们的婚礼邀请。
-
He changed his mind and declined the company's offer.他改变主意，谢绝了那家公司提供的职位。
[no object]
— opposite accept 4
[+ object] grammar : to list the different forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective)使（名词、代词或形容词）变格；列出词形变化 — decliner
/dɪˈklaɪnɚ/ noun, plural decliners [count] — declining
/dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/ adjective 2 decline /dɪˈklaɪn/ noun
plural declines
2 decline
/dɪˈklaɪn/
noun
plural declines
Learner's definition of DECLINE
1
: the process of becoming worse in condition or quality衰落；衰退 [noncount]
-
a period of economic decline经济衰退期
-
He says that American industry is in a state of decline.他说美国工业正处在衰退状态。
-
There was a general feeling that the country was in decline. [=was becoming less powerful, wealthy, etc.]人们普遍感觉到那个国家正在衰败。
-
The town fell/went into decline after the factory closed down.那家工厂倒闭后，整个镇子走向萧条。
[count]
—
usually singular通常用单数 -
He has experienced a decline in health.他的健康已经每况愈下。
-
the decline and fall of the Roman empire罗马帝国的衰败与灭亡
-
The company's products suffered a decline in quality.这家公司的产品质量下降了。
-
a gradual physical/mental decline体力/脑力的逐渐衰退
2
: a change to a lower number or amount减少；下降 [count]
-
The economy experienced a decline of two million jobs.经济形势使两百万人失业。
-
We saw a sharp/steep decline in sales this month.我们本月的销售量急剧/陡然下降。
-
Declines led advances at the end of the trading day.交易日结束时，下跌股多于上涨股。
[noncount]
on the decline
: becoming worse in condition or less in size, amount, number, etc. : declining恶化；减少；下降