reduce

[ ri-doos, -dyoos ]

/ rɪˈdus, -ˈdyus /

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verb (used with object), re·duced, re·duc·ing.

to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, number, etc.: to reduce one's weight by 10 pounds.

to lower in degree, intensity, etc.: to reduce the speed of a car.

to bring down to a lower rank, dignity, etc.: a sergeant reduced to a corporal

to treat analytically, as a complex idea.

to lower in price.

to bring to a certain state, condition, arrangement, etc.: to reduce glass to powder.

to bring under control or authority.

Cookery. to evaporate water from (a sauce, soup, or other liquid), usually by boiling.

Photography. to lessen the density of (an exposed negative).

to adjust or correct by making allowances, as an astronomical observation.

Mathematics. to change the denomination or form, but not the value, of (a fraction, polynomial, etc.).

Chemistry.

to add electrons to.
to deoxidize.
to add hydrogen to.
to change (a compound) so that the valence of the positive element is lower.

Chemistry, Metallurgy. to bring into the metallic state by separating from nonmetallic constituents.

to thin or dilute: to reduce paint with oil or turpentine.

to lower the alcoholic concentration of (spirits) by diluting with water.

Surgery. to restore to the normal place, relation, or condition, as a fractured bone.

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.

to become reduced.

to become lessened, especially in weight.

to be turned into or made to equal something: All our difficulties reduce to financial problems.

Cell Biology. to undergo meiosis.

Nearby words

Origin of reduce

1325–75; Middle English reducen to lead back < Latin redūcere to lead back, bring back, equivalent to re- re- + dūcere to lead

SYNONYMS FOR reduce

1 diminish, decrease, shorten, abridge, curtail, contract, retrench.

1, 2 lessen, attenuate, abate.

3 degrade, demote, humble.

7 subdue, subjugate, conquer, subject, vanquish, overcome, overpower.

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ANTONYMS FOR reduce

1 increase.

3 elevate, exalt.

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Related formsan·ti·re·duc·ing, adjective, nounnon·re·duc·ing, adjectiveo·ver·re·duce, verb, o·ver·re·duced, o·ver·re·duc·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reduce

Having a criminal record can reduce the likelihood of getting a callback or job offer by 50 percent.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We kind of reduce things to the lowest common denominator, in some ways for good and in some ways not for good.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like background check laws across the country, it will help keep guns out of dangerous hands, reduce gun crime, and save lives.
The NRA’s Twisted List for Santa|John Feinblatt|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The studio took him at his word and jumped at the chance to close down, or at least reduce, his costly operation.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But mayors generally favor ways to reduce political heat with independent probes.
Dear GOP: Fix the Damn Justice System!|Jonathan Alter|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fired with ambition by these successes, he pressed boldly onward to reduce the cities and lands of the east.
The History of Antiquity, Vol. I (of VI)|Max Duncker
We encounter much difficulty in attempting to reduce these various facts to any rule or law.
The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II (of 2)|Charles Darwin
Vegetables obtain their nourishment from mineral substances, which they reduce, de-oxydize, and charge with solar energy.
The Mechanism of Life|Stphane Leduc
A regiment of infantry and a battalion of cavalry were put on guard and patrolled the streets to reduce the riotous to order.
From Fort Henry to Corinth|Manning Ferguson Force
For answer Johnny whistled once, cupping his lips with his hands, to reduce the likelihood of arousing anyone on board.
Sign of the Green Arrow|Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell

British Dictionary definitions for reduce

reduce

/ (rɪˈdjuːs) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity, etc

to bring into a certain state, condition, etcto reduce a forest to ashes; to reduce someone to despair

(also intr) to make or become slimmer; lose or cause to lose excess weight

to impoverish (esp in the phrase in reduced circumstances)

to bring into a state of submission to one's authority; subjugatethe whole country was reduced after three months

to bring down the price of (a commodity)the shirt was reduced in the sale

to lower the rank or status of; demotehe was reduced from corporal to private; reduced to the ranks

to set out systematically as an aid to understanding; simplifyhis theories have been reduced in a popular treatise

maths to modify or simplify the form of (an expression or equation), esp by substitution of one term by another

cookery to make (a sauce, stock, etc) more concentrated by boiling away some of the water in it

to thin out (paint) by adding oil, turpentine, etc; dilute

(also intr) chem

to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction with hydrogen or formation of a hydride
to lose or cause to lose oxygen atoms
to undergo or cause to undergo an increase in the number of electronsCompare oxidize

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

surgery to manipulate or reposition (a broken or displaced bone, organ, or part) back to its normal site

(also intr) biology to undergo or cause to undergo meiosis

Derived Formsreducible, adjectivereducibility, nounreducibly, adverb

Word Origin for reduce

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reduce

reduce

late 14c., "bring back," from Old French reducer (14c.), from Latin reducere "lead back, bring back," figuratively "restore, replace," from re- "back" (see re-) + ducere "bring, lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "bring to an inferior condition" is 1570s; that of "bring to a lower rank" is 1640s (military reduce to ranks is from 1802); that of "subdue by force of arms" is 1610s. Sense of "to lower, diminish, lessen" is from 1787. Related: Reduced; reducing.

Medicine definitions for reduce

reduce

[ rĭ-dōōs′ ]

v.

To bring down, as in extent, amount, or degree; diminish.

To lose weight, as by dieting.

To restore a fractured or displaced body part to a normal condition or position.

To decrease the valence of an atom by adding electrons.

To remove oxygen from a compound.

To add hydrogen to a compound.

Related formsre•duc′i•ble adj.

reduce

verb (used with object), re·duced, re·duc·ing.

verb (used without object), re·duced, re·duc·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of reduce

Examples from the Web for reduce

British Dictionary definitions for reduce

reduce

verb (mainly tr)

Word Origin for reduce

Word Origin and History for reduce

reduce

Medicine definitions for reduce

reduce

v.