decline
/dɪˈklaɪn; dɪ`klaɪn/ v
1 [I, Tn, Tt]
say `no' to (sth); refuse (sth offered), usu politely 拒绝（接受某物）; （通常指）谢绝
I invited her to join us, but she declined. 我邀请她和我们在一起, 可是她婉言谢绝了.
decline an invitation to dinner 谢绝宴请
He declined to discuss his plans. 他拒绝讨论他的计划.
2 [I] become smaller, weaker, fewer, etc; diminish 变小; 变弱; 变少
Her influence declined after she lost the election. 她落选後其影响力大为降低.
a declining birth-rate 逐渐下降的出生率
declining sales 销售量下降
He spent his declining years (ie those at the end of his life) in the country. 他在乡村度过晚年.
3 (grammar)
(a) [Tn] vary the endings of (nouns and pronouns) according to their function in a sentence 改变（名词和代词）的词尾（根据其在句中的作用）.
(b) [I] (of nouns and pronouns) vary in this way （指名词和代词）按此方式变化.
decline / dɪˈklaɪn; dɪ`klaɪn/ n
1 ~ (in sth) gradual and continuous loss of strength, power, numbers, etc; declining （力量、 权力、 数量等的）消减
the decline of the Roman Empire 罗马帝国的衰亡
a decline in population, prices, popularity 人口、 价格、 声望的降低.
2 (idm 习语) fall/go into a de`cline lose strength, influence, etc 失去力量、 影响等
After his wife's death, he fell into a decline. 他在妻子死後一蹶不振.
The company has gone into a decline because of falling demand. 由於市场需求下降, 这家公司的生意每况愈下. on the de`cline becoming weaker, fewer, etc 在消减; 在衰退
She is on the decline, and may die soon. 她身体越来越弱, 恐不久於人世.
The number of robberies in the area is on the decline. 这地区的劫案在减少.