*crease*

n. [ Cf. LG. krus, G. krause, crispness, krausen, kräusen, to crisp, curl, lay on folds; or perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. kriz a wrinkle, crease, kriza to wrinkle, fold, W. crych a wrinkle, crychu to rumple, ripple, crease. ] 1. A line or mark made by folding or doubling any pliable substance; hence, a similar mark, however produced. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Cricket) One of the lines serving to define the limits of the bowler and the striker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Lacrosse) The combination of four lines forming a rectangle inclosing either goal, or the inclosed space itself, within which no attacking player is allowed unless the ball is there; -- called also goal crease. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Bowling crease (Cricket), a line extending three feet four inches on each side of the central strings at right angles to the line between the wickets. --
Return crease (Cricket), a short line at each end of the bowling crease and at right angles to it, extending toward the bowler. --
Popping crease (Cricket), , a line drawn in front of the wicket, four feet distant from it, parallel to the bowling crease and at least as long as the latter. J. H. Walsh (Encyc. of Rural Sports). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Creased p. pr. & vb. n. Creasing. ] To make a crease or mark in, as by folding or doubling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Creased, like dog's ears in a folio. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A tool, or a sewing-machine attachment, for making lines or creases on leather or cloth, as guides to sew by. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tool for making creases or beads, as in sheet iron, or for rounding small tubes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bookbinding) A tool for making the band impression distinct on the back. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Decreased p. pr. & vb. n. Decreasing. ] [ OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître, or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), fr. L. decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase. ] To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December. [ 1913 Webster ]

He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30.

Syn. -- To Decrease, Diminish. Things usually decrease or fall off by degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is imperceptible; as, the flood decreases; the cold decreases; their affection has decreased. Things commonly diminish by an influence from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was diminished by disease; his property is diminishing through extravagance; their affection has diminished since their separation their separation. The turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be interchanged. [ 1913 Webster ]

The olive leaf, which certainly them told
The flood decreased. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye;
Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means. [ 1913 Webster ]

That might decrease their present store. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See Decrease, v. ] 1. A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The wane of the moon. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made less in size or amount or degree. Opposite of increased. [ Narrower terms: attenuate, attenuated, faded, weakened; belittled, diminished, small; cut, cut-rate; diminished, lessened; minimized; remittent; attenuated ]
Syn. -- reduced. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Suffering no decrease. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It [ the river ] flows and flows, and yet will flow,
Volume decreaseless to the final hour. A. Seward. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. See Increase. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Increased p. pr. & vb. n. Increasing. ] [ OE. incresen, encresen, enrescen, OF. encreistre, fr. L. increscere; pref. in- in + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Decrease. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To become greater or more in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth; to grow; to augment; to advance; -- opposed to decrease. [ 1913 Webster ]

The waters increased and bare up the ark. Gen. vii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30. [ 1913 Webster ]

The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fishes are more numerous or increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases. [ 1913 Webster ]

Increasing function (Math.), a function whose value increases when that of the variable increases, and decreases when the latter is diminished; also called a monotonically increasing function.

Syn. -- To enlarge; extend; multiply; expand; develop; heighten; amplify; raise; enhance; spread; aggravate; magnify; augment; advance. -- To Increase, Enlarge, Extend. Enlarge implies to make larger or broader in size. Extend marks the progress of enlargement so as to have wider boundaries. Increase denotes enlargement by growth and internal vitality, as in the case of plants. A kingdom is enlarged by the addition of new territories; the mind is enlarged by knowledge. A kingdom is extended when its boundaries are carried to a greater distance from the center. A man's riches, honors, knowledge, etc., are increased by accessions which are made from time to time. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount, etc.; to add to; to extend; to lengthen; to enhance; to aggravate; as, to increase one's possessions, influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will increase the famine. Ezek. v. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

Make denials
Increase your services. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. encres, encresse. See Increase, v. i. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Addition or enlargement in size, extent, quantity, number, intensity, value, substance, etc.; augmentation; growth. [ 1913 Webster ]

As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

For things of tender kind for pleasure made
Shoot up with swift increase, and sudden are decay'd. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth; produce; profit; interest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take thou no usury of him, or increase. Lev. xxv. 36. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let them not live to taste this land's increase. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Progeny; issue; offspring. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age. 1 Sam. ii. 33. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Generation. [ Obs. ] “Organs of increase.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Astron.) The period of increasing light, or luminous phase; the waxing; -- said of the moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seeds, hair, nails, hedges, and herbs will grow soonest if set or cut in the increase of the moon. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Increase twist, the twixt of a rifle groove in which the angle of twist increases from the breech to the muzzle.

Syn. -- Enlargement; extension; growth; development; increment; addition; accession; production. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. made greater in size or amount or degree. Opposite of decreased. [ Narrower terms: augmented ; exaggerated, hyperbolic, inflated; exaggerated, magnified, enlarged ; raised(prenominal), inflated ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Full of increase; abundant in produce. “Increaseful crops.” [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Increase. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that, increases. [ 1913 Webster ]