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• build-down
  build-down

  noun

  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.
• build down
  build down

  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.

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

But months of tinkering by various experts and Congressmen added a wide variety of refinements that make build-down as complicated as a Chinese menu�or perhaps a menu in Chinese.

From Time Magazine Archive

Furthermore, in October 1983, we incorporated build-down into the U.S. approach and offered to explore trade-offs between the areas of U.S. and Soviet advantage.

From Time Magazine Archive

He added that build-down enjoyed broad support in Congress and stood a good chance of ratification, whoever occupied the White House.

From Time Magazine Archive

Their major interest was to get the President to endorse the idea of a "build-down" in nuclear missiles.

From Time Magazine Archive