build-down

American  

[bild-doun] / ˈbɪldˌdaʊn /

noun

1. a process for reducing armaments, especially the number of nuclear weapons held by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., by eliminating several older weapons for each new one that is deployed.

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build down Idioms  

1. Reduce, diminish, as in Owing to increased vigilance, traffic in narcotics is finally building down. This term, the antonym of build up, came into use about 1980 with regard to reducing the stockpile of nuclear weapons and soon was applied more widely.

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Etymology

Origin of build-down

First recorded in 1980–85; by analogy with buildup

Example Sentences

If there is such a thing as the opposite to a buildup, the vice presidential debate last night had received a build-down.

From Salon • Oct. 6, 2016

Proponents suggested that the build-down be stretched out until 1996 to give both sides time to make orderly reductions as they modern ize weapons systems.

From Time Magazine Archive

The build-down idea began to take shape last January when Maine Republican Senator William Cohen wrote an article in the Washington Post suggesting that any new arms-control agreement include the build-down proposal.

From Time Magazine Archive

But as the talks went on, they began to see high-level officials�who, to Cohen's surprise, seemed to be studying the details of the build-down plan for the first time.

From Time Magazine Archive

An equitable build-down would probably require "variable ratios" designed to bring the U.S. and Soviet forces into rough balance.

From Time Magazine Archive