| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | devouring; use |
| Synonyms: | burning, consuming, damage, decay, decrease, depletion, desolation, destruction, devastation, diminution, dispersion, dissipation, drinking, eating, exhaustion, expenditure, loss, misuse, ruin, swallowing, using up, utilization, waste, wear and tear |
| Antonyms: | fasting, starvation |
| Main Entry: | decay |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | breaking down, collapse |
| Synonyms: | adulteration, atrophy, blight, caries, consumption, corrosion, crumbling, decadence, decline, decomposition, decrease, decrepitude, degeneracy, degeneration, depreciation, deterioration, dilapidation, disintegration, disrepair, dissolution, downfall, dying, extinction, fading, failing, gangrene, impairment, mortification, perishing, putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rot, rotting, ruin, ruination, rust, senescence, spoilage, spoilation, wasting, wasting away, withering |
| Antonyms: | development, flourish, germination, growth, improvement, ripening, strength, strengthening |
| Main Entry: | erosion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | deterioration; wearing away |
| Synonyms: | abrasion, attrition, consumption, corrosion, decrease, desedimentation, despoliation, destruction, disintegration, eating away, grinding down, spoiling, washing away, wear, wearing down |
| Notes: | abrasion is the process of wearing down or rubbing away by means of friction; corrosion is the act or process of destroying a metal or alloy gradually, especially by oxidation or chemical action; erosion is any of a group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface |
| Antonyms: | building, construction, rebuilding, strengthening |
| Main Entry: | exhaustion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | tiredness |
| Synonyms: | burnout, collapse, consumption, debilitation, debility, enervation, expenditure, fatigue, feebleness, lassitude, prostration, weariness |
| Antonyms: | energy, liveliness, readiness, vigor |
| Main Entry: | expenditure |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | payment |
| Synonyms: | amount, application, bottom line, cash on barrelhead, charge, come to, consumption, cost, disbursement, dissipation, expense, figure, investment, kickback, outgo, outlay, output, payoff, price, rate, setback*, spending, splurge, squander, throw*, tune*, use, valuation, value, waste |
| Notes: | expenditure refers to an actual outlay of money or goods, whereas expense has a more general sense, a charge or cost of goods or property; we have expenses, but we make expenditures |
| Antonyms: | savings |
| Main Entry: | expense |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | cost, payment |
| Synonyms: | amount, assessment, bite*, bottom line, budget, charge, consumption, debit, debt, decrement, deprivation, disbursement, duty, expenditure, forfeit, forfeiture, insurance, investment, liability, loan, loss, mortgage, obligation, out of pocket, outdo, outlay, output, overhead, payroll, price, price tag, rate, responsibility, risk, sacrifice, spending, sum, surcharge, tariff, toll, upkeep, use, value, worth |
| Notes: | expenditure refers to an actual outlay of money or goods, whereas expense has a more general sense, a charge or cost of goods or property; we have expenses, but we make expenditures |
| Main Entry: | tuberculosis |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | infection |
| Synonyms: | consumption, phthisis |
| Main Entry: | assimilation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | absorption |
| Synonyms: | anabolism, catabolism, consumption, digestion, ingestion, inhalation, metabolism, soaking up, taking in |
| Main Entry: | eating |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | consuming |
| Synonyms: | binging, biting, chewing, consumption, devouring, dining, feasting on, feeding on, gluttony, gobbling, gorging on, gourmandization, having a meal, masticating, munching, nibbling, overindulgence, pigging out, snacking, stuffing oneself |