[dee-es-kuh-leyt] 
| to decrease in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to de-escalate a war. |
| de-es·ca·late or de·es·ca·late (dē-ěs'kə-lāt') v. de-es·ca·lat·ed or de·es·ca·lat·ed, de-es·ca·lat·ing or de·es·ca·lat·ing, de-es·ca·lates or de·es·ca·lates v. tr. To decrease the size, scope, or intensity of (a war, for example). v. intr. To decrease or diminish in size, scope, or intensity: The birth rate has begun to de-escalate. de-es'ca·la'tion n., de-es'ca·la·tor'y (-lə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj. |
kəˌleɪt