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

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

Part of the beauty of the original "build-down" approach was that it promised to be simple.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

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