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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

Asked by the Soviets whether the build-down proposal was just posturing by the President to win reelection, Democrat Biden stated, "I'm telling you, this is a good deal."

From Time Magazine Archive

Besides letting huge clouds of steam out of the overall economy, the military build-down will take a huge personal toll on displaced workers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, after long meetings with Senators at the White House, Reagan endorsed the build-down principle, but said the 2-for-l formula was not flexible enough.

From Time Magazine Archive

When Reagan's chief arms-control negotiator, Edward Rowny, protested to Cohen that build-down would only complicate matters in Geneva, the Senator asked: "How about no MX?"

From Time Magazine Archive