Gradually ease off (4)
I believe the answer is:
wean
'gradually ease off' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for wean that I've seen before include "Bring baby off mother's milk" , "Accustom to nourishment" , "Take the young off mother's milk" , "Gradually bring a baby off suckling" , "Win over" .)