reduce
reduce /rɪˈduːs/
verb
-
(
![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
)
Cut down on; make a reduction in
(
bring down
, trim back
, cut back
, trim
, cut
, cut down
, reduce
, trim down
)
cut down on; make a reduction in
Reduce your daily fat intake
reduce your daily fat intake
The employer wants to cut back health benefits
The employer wants to cut back health benefits
-
(
)
Make less complex
(
reduce
)
make less complex
Reduce a problem to a single question
reduce a problem to a single question
-
(
)
Bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
(
reduce
)
bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
He reduced the population to slavery
He reduced the population to slavery
-
(
)
Be the essential element
(
boil down
, come down
, reduce
)
be the essential element
The proposal boils down to a compromise
The proposal boils down to a compromise
-
(
)
Lower in grade, rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
(
reduce
)
lower in grade, rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
She reduced her niece to a servant
She reduced her niece to a servant
-
(
)
(mathematics) simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
(
reduce
)
(mathematics) simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
-
(
)
Reduce in size; reduce physically
(
reduce
, shrink
)
reduce in size; reduce physically
Hot water will shrink the sweater
Hot water will shrink the sweater
Can you shrink this image?
Can you shrink this image?
-
(
)
Narrow or limit
(
tighten
, reduce
)
narrow or limit
Reduce the influx of foreigners
reduce the influx of foreigners
-
(
)
(chemistry) to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons
(
deoxidise
[British] , deoxidize
, reduce
)
(chemistry) to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons
-
(
)
Make smaller
(
scale down
, reduce
)
make smaller
Reduce an image
reduce an image
-
(
)
Lessen and make more modest
(
reduce
)
lessen and make more modest
Reduce one's standard of living
reduce one's standard of living
-
Take off weight
(
reduce
, slenderize
, slim
, slim down
, melt off
, thin
, lose weight
)
take off weight
The snow began to melt off under the warm sun.
The snow began to melt off under the warm sun.
-
Lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
(
cut
, reduce
, thin
, thin out
, dilute
)
lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
Cut bourbon
cut bourbon
-
(cooking) cook until very little liquid is left
(
boil down
, concentrate
, reduce
)
(cooking) cook until very little liquid is left
The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
-
(cooking) be cooked until very little liquid is left
(
boil down
, concentrate
, decoct
[Archaic] , reduce
)
(cooking) be cooked until very little liquid is left
The sauce should reduce to one cup
The sauce should reduce to one cup
-
Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
(
abbreviate
, contract
, cut
, reduce
, abridge
, foreshorten
, shorten
)
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
The manuscript must be shortened
The manuscript must be shortened
-
(linguistics) destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
(
reduce
)
(linguistics) destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
-
Reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
(
reduce
)
reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
-
Undergo meiosis
(
reduce
)
undergo meiosis
The cells reduce
The cells reduce
-
Put down by force or intimidation
(
keep down
, reduce
, quash
, subjugate
, repress
, subdue
)
put down by force or intimidation
The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land