noun
definition
Downward movement, fall.
definition
A sloping downward, e.g. of a hill or road.
definition
A weakening.
definition
A reduction or diminution of activity.
definition
The act of declining or refusing something.
verb
definition
To move downwards, to fall, to drop.
example
The dollar has declined rapidly since 2001.
definition
To become weaker or worse.
example
My health declined in winter.
definition
To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.
definition
To cause to decrease or diminish.
definition
To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw.
example
a line that declines from straightness
definition
To refuse, forbear.
example
On reflection I think I will decline your generous offer.
definition
(grammar, usually of substantives, adjectives and pronouns) To inflect for case, number and sometimes gender.
definition
(by extension) To run through from first to last; to repeat like a schoolboy declining a noun.
definition
To reject a penalty against the opposing team, usually because the result of accepting it would benefit the non-penalized team less than the preceding play.
example
The team chose to decline the fifteen-yard penalty because their receiver had caught the ball for a thirty-yard gain.