deflate

/di-ˈflāt/

de- + -flate (as in inflate)

verb

  1. to release air or gas from

  2. to reduce in size, importance, or effectiveness

  3. to reduce (a price level) or cause (a volume of credit) to contract

deflate a tire

contract shrink condense compress constrict deflate mean to decrease in bulk or volume. contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length. shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.