shortening

[ shawrt-ning, shawr-tn-ing ]

/ ˈʃɔrt nɪŋ, ˈʃɔr tn ɪŋ /

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noun

butter, lard, or other fat, used to make pastry, bread, etc., short.

Phonetics. the act, process, or an instance of making or becoming short.

Linguistics.

the act or process of dropping one or more syllables from a word or phrase to form a shorter word with the same meaning, as in forming piano from pianoforte or phone from telephone.
clipped form.

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Origin of shortening

First recorded in 1535–45; shorten + -ing¹

Words nearby shortening

short division, short-eared owl, short elevator muscle of rib, shorten, shortened form, shortening, Shorter, Shorter Catechism, shortfall, short field, short for

How to use shortening in a sentence

The pandemic has also played a role, limiting international sales and shortening vendor and publishing staffs worldwide.
Anime and manga will take center stage at the Olympics. It could fuel a boom in interest.|Kyle Melnick|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
Then add water — cold water so the shortening won’t melt until it hits the oven — and work it in until the dough is just wet enough to hold itself together.
America forgot how to make proper pie. Can we remember before it’s too late?|Megan McArdle|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
The team speculates that recent research on telomere shortening that makes similar lifespan estimates suggests this could be a promising avenue for this search.
How Long Can We Live? New Research Says the Human Lifespan Tops Out at 150|Edd Gent|June 7, 2021|Singularity Hub
The shortening ensures that the centers of the cookies remain soft.
Caramelized banana chocolate chunk cookies are the new best use for the rest of that bunch|Jesse Szewczyk|December 2, 2020|Washington Post

It’s been the general consensus that cooler temperatures and shortening day lengths are the main signals that trees use to decide when to drop their leaves.
Climate change is affecting fall foliage, but not in the way you think|Ula Chrobak|November 30, 2020|Popular-Science
Remove the butter and shortening from the freezer, and toss them with the dry ingredients, coating them well.
Cat Cora’s Valentine’s Day Menu for Single People|Cat Cora|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The RNC report recommends cutting the number of debates in half and shortening the debating season.
What the GOP Autopsy Proves|Stuart Stevens|March 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And in the world of quantitative investing, even unpublished strategies have ever-shortening shelf-lives.
Just How Wise is the Sage of Omaha?|Megan McArdle|December 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
From freeing prisoners to shortening school weeks, Benjamin Sarlin presents 10 of the toughest cuts.
The Top 10 Most Brutal Budget Cuts|Benjamin Sarlin|December 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
A law is being considered that would allow the shortening of the 30-day notice period required to get married.
India's Strangely Modern Killing Spree|Kiran Bedi|July 11, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It is true that up to a certain point shortening the hours of labor actually increases the total product.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
We ought to attempt such a shortening as will strain the machine to a breaking point, but never break it.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
The shortening of the general hours of work, then, should be among the primary aims of social reform.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
In the leaping kangaroo and jerboa a shortening of the arms and lengthening of the legs appear.
Man And His Ancestor|Charles Morris
Let us, therefore, by calling on Mary for help, do our part toward shortening the days of visitation and trial.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various

British Dictionary definitions for shortening

shortening

/ (ˈʃɔːtənɪŋ) /

noun

butter, lard, or other fat, used in a dough, cake mixture, etc, to make the mixture short

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

shortening

Origin of shortening

Words nearby shortening

Words related to shortening

How to use shortening in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shortening