reduce

[ ri-doos, -dyoos ]

verb (used with object)

, re·duced, re·duc·ing.

1. to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, number, etc.:

   to reduce one's weight by 10 pounds.

   Synonyms: abate, attenuate, lessen, retrench, contract, curtail, abridge, shorten, decrease, diminish

   Antonyms: increase

2. to lower in degree, intensity, etc.:

   to reduce the speed of a car.

   Synonyms: abate, attenuate, lessen

3. to bring down to a lower rank, dignity, etc.:

   a sergeant reduced to a corporal

   Synonyms: humble, demote, degrade

   Antonyms: exalt, elevate

4. to treat analytically, as a complex idea.
5. to lower in price.
6. to bring to a certain state, condition, arrangement, etc.:

   to reduce glass to powder.

7. to bring under control or authority.

   Synonyms: overpower, overcome, vanquish, subject, conquer, subjugate, subdue

8. Cooking. to evaporate water from (a sauce, soup, or other liquid), usually by boiling.
9. Photography. to lessen the density of (an exposed negative).
10. to adjust or correct by making allowances, as an astronomical observation.
11. Mathematics. to change the denomination or form, but not the value, of (a fraction, polynomial, etc.).
12. Chemistry.
    1. to add electrons to.
    2. to deoxidize.
    3. to add hydrogen to.
    4. to change (a compound) so that the valence of the positive element is lower.
13. Chemistry, Metallurgy. to bring into the metallic state by separating from nonmetallic constituents.
14. to thin or dilute:

    to reduce paint with oil or turpentine.

15. to lower the alcoholic concentration of (spirits) by diluting with water.
16. Surgery. to restore to the normal place, relation, or condition, as a fractured bone.
17. Phonetics. to modify the quality of (a speech sound) to one of lesser distinctiveness, especially to pronounce (an unstressed vowel) as (ə) or another centralized vowel, as in the unstressed syllables of medicinal.

verb (used without object)

, re·duced, re·duc·ing.

1. to become reduced.
2. to become lessened, especially in weight.
3. to be turned into or made to equal something:

   All our difficulties reduce to financial problems.

4. Cell Biology. to undergo meiosis.

reduce

/ rɪˈdjuːs /

verb

1. also intr to make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity, etc
2. to bring into a certain state, condition, etc

   to reduce a forest to ashes

   to reduce someone to despair

3. also intr to make or become slimmer; lose or cause to lose excess weight
4. to impoverish (esp in the phrase in reduced circumstances )
5. to bring into a state of submission to one's authority; subjugate

   the whole country was reduced after three months

6. to bring down the price of (a commodity)

   the shirt was reduced in the sale

7. to lower the rank or status of; demote

   he was reduced from corporal to private

   reduced to the ranks

8. to set out systematically as an aid to understanding; simplify

   his theories have been reduced in a popular treatise

9. maths to modify or simplify the form of (an expression or equation), esp by substitution of one term by another
10. cookery to make (a sauce, stock, etc) more concentrated by boiling away some of the water in it
11. to thin out (paint) by adding oil, turpentine, etc; dilute
12. also intr chem
    1. to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction with hydrogen or formation of a hydride
    2. to lose or cause to lose oxygen atoms
    3. to undergo or cause to undergo an increase in the number of electrons Compare oxidize
13. photog to lessen the density of (a negative or print) by converting some of the blackened silver in the emulsion to soluble silver compounds by an oxidation process using a photographic reducer
14. surgery to manipulate or reposition (a broken or displaced bone, organ, or part) back to its normal site
15. also intr biology to undergo or cause to undergo meiosis

Derived Forms

• reˌduciˈbility, noun
• reˈducible, adjective
• reˈducibly, adverb

Other Words From

• anti·re·ducing adjective noun
• nonre·ducing adjective
• over·re·duce verb overreduced overreducing

Word History and Origins

Origin of reduce¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English reducen “to lead back,” from Latin redūcere “to lead back, bring back,” equivalent to re- re- + dūcere “to lead”

Word History and Origins

Origin of reduce¹

C14: from Latin redūcere to bring back, from re- + dūcere to lead

Example Sentences

Facebook is also today reminding users of its rules to reduce the spread of groups tied to violence.

From TechCrunch

So in addition to reducing emissions at home, we need to make it likelier that those countries will reduce their emissions, too.

From Vox

Google announced at the start of September it would reduce the visibility of search terms shown in reports for advertisers.

From Search Engine Land

Now Israel can claim it has more friends in the region, possibly reducing the pressure on it regarding its relations with Palestinians.

From Vox

In an interview with VOSD’s Scott Lewis this week, a top aide to Mayor Kevin Faulconer noted that the estimate now includes a 45 percent contingency and could be reduced as general contracting firm Kitchell digs in further.

From Voice of San Diego

Having a criminal record can reduce the likelihood of getting a callback or job offer by 50 percent.

From The Daily Beast

We kind of reduce things to the lowest common denominator, in some ways for good and in some ways not for good.

From The Daily Beast

Heat the rum in a small skillet over medium until reduce by half.

From The Daily Beast

Like background check laws across the country, it will help keep guns out of dangerous hands, reduce gun crime, and save lives.

From The Daily Beast

The studio took him at his word and jumped at the chance to close down, or at least reduce, his costly operation.

From The Daily Beast

However, in the visit that I shall make in this archbishopric, I shall try to reduce them to as few settlements as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

He will rattle on in Spanish till Herr S. gets desperate, and tries to reduce him to order.

From Project Gutenberg

This would reduce the available time for direct manual labour at his disposal.

From Project Gutenberg

I will take care to reduce the weight if possible, so as to be carried on the backs of mules.

From Project Gutenberg

But a bank can retain a dividend that has been declared to reduce the indebtedness of the owner to the bank for his stock.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• curtail
• cut
• cut down
• diminish
• dwindle
• knock off
• lessen
• lower
• pare
• scale down
• shorten
• slash
• trim
• weaken