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Reduce definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

REDU'CE, v.t. [L. reduco; re and duco, to lead or bring.]
1. Literally, to bring back; as, to reduce these bloody days again.
[In this sense, not in use.]
2. To bring to a former state.
It were but just and equal to reduce me to my dust.
3. To bring to any state or condition, good or bad; as, to reduce civil or ecclesiastical affairs to order; to reduce a man to poverty; to reduce a state to distress; to reduce a substance to powder; to reduce a sum to fractions; to reduce on to despair.
4. To diminish in length, breadth, thickness, size, quantity or value; as, to reduce expenses; to reduce the quantity of any thing; to reduce the intensity of heat; to reduce the brightness of color light; to reduce a sum or amount; to reduce the price of goods.
5. To lower; to degrade; to impair in dignity or excellence.
Nothing so excellent but a man may fasten on something belonging to it, to reduce it.
6. To subdue; to bring into subjection. The Romans reduced Spain, Gaul and Britain by their arms.
7. To reclaim to order.
8. To bring, as into a class, order, genus or species; to bring under rules or within certain limits of description; as, to reduce animals or vegetables to a class or classes; to reduce men to tribes; to reduce language to rules.
9. In arithmetic, to change numbers from one denomination into another without altering their value; or to change numbers of one denomination into others of the same value; as, to reduce a dollar to a hundred cents, or a hundred cents to a dollar.
10. In algebra, to reduce equations, is to clear them of all superfluous quantities, bring them to their lowest terms, and separate the known from the unknown, till at length the unknown quantity only is found on one side and the known ones on the other.
11. In metallurgy, to bring back metallic substances which have been divested of their form, into their original state of metals.
12. In surgery, to restore to its proper place or state a dislocated or fractured bone.
To reduce a figure, design or draught, to make a copy of it larger or smaller than the original, but preserving the form and proportion.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"; "The employer wants to cut back health benefits" [syn: reduce, cut down, cut back, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring down]
2: make less complex; "reduce a problem to a single question"
3: bring to humbler or weaker state or condition; "He reduced the population to slavery"
4: simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
5: lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation; "She reduced her niece to a servant"
6: be the essential element; "The proposal boils down to a compromise" [syn: reduce, come down, boil down]
7: reduce in size; reduce physically; "Hot water will shrink the sweater"; "Can you shrink this image?" [syn: shrink, reduce]
8: lessen and make more modest; "reduce one's standard of living"
9: make smaller; "reduce an image" [syn: reduce, scale down] [ant: blow up, enlarge, magnify]
10: 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 [syn: deoxidize, deoxidise, reduce] [ant: oxidate, oxidise, oxidize]
11: narrow or limit; "reduce the influx of foreigners" [syn: reduce, tighten]
12: put down by force or intimidation; "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land" [syn: repress, quash, keep down, subdue, subjugate, reduce]
13: undergo meiosis; "The cells reduce"
14: reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
15: destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
16: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" [syn: abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduce] [ant: dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expand, expatiate, exposit, expound, flesh out, lucubrate]
17: be cooked until very little liquid is left; "The sauce should reduce to one cup" [syn: boil down, reduce, decoct, concentrate]
18: cook until very little liquid is left; "The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time" [syn: reduce, boil down, concentrate]
19: lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture; "cut bourbon" [syn: dilute, thin, thin out, reduce, cut]
20: take off weight [syn: reduce, melt off, lose weight, slim, slenderize, thin, slim down] [ant: gain, put on]

Merriam Webster's

verb (reduced; reducing) Etymology: Middle English, to lead back, from Latin reducere, from re- + ducere to lead — more at tow Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to draw together or cause to converge ; consolidate <reduce all the questions to one> b. (1) to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number <reduce taxes> <reduce the likelihood of war> (2) to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavor of by boiling <add the wine and reduce the sauce for two minutes> c. to narrow down ; restrict <the Indians were reduced to small reservations> d. to make shorter ; abridge 2. archaic to restore to righteousness ; save 3. to bring to a specified state or condition <the impact of the movie reduced them to tears> 4. a. to force to capitulate b. force, compel 5. a. to bring to a systematic form or character <reduce natural events to laws> b. to put down in written or printed form <reduce an agreement to writing> 6. to correct (as a fracture) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions 7. a. to lower in grade or rank ; demote b. to lower in condition or status ; downgrade 8. a. to diminish in strength or density b. to diminish in value 9. a. (1) to change the denominations or form of without changing the value (2) to construct a geometrical figure similar to but smaller than (a given figure) b. to transpose from one form into another ; convert c. to change (an expression) to an equivalent but more fundamental expression <reduce a fraction> 10. to break down (as by crushing or grinding) ; pulverize 11. a. to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements <reduce an ore by heat> b. deoxidize c. to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen d. (1) to change (an element or ion) from a higher to a lower oxidation state (2) to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule) 12. to change (a stressed vowel) to an unstressed vowel intransitive verb 1. a. (1) to become diminished or lessened; especially to lose weight by dieting (2) to become reduced <ferrous iron reduces to ferric iron> b. to become concentrated or consolidated c. to undergo meiosis 2. to become converted or equated Synonyms: see decrease, conquer • reducer noun • reducibility noun • reducible adjective • reducibly adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become smaller or less. 2 tr. (foll. by to) bring by force or necessity (to some undesirable state or action) (reduced them to tears; were reduced to begging). 3 tr. convert to another (esp. simpler) form (reduced it to a powder). 4 tr. convert (a fraction) to the form with the lowest terms. 5 tr. (foll. by to) bring or simplify or adapt by classification or analysis (the dispute may be reduced to three issues). 6 tr. make lower in status or rank. 7 tr. lower the price of. 8 intr. lessen one's weight or size. 9 tr. weaken (is in a very reduced state). 10 tr. impoverish. 11 tr. subdue; bring back to obedience. 12 Chem. intr. & tr. a combine or cause to combine with hydrogen. b undergo or cause to undergo addition of electrons. 13 tr. Chem. convert (oxide etc.) to metal. 14 tr. a (in surgery) restore (a dislocated etc. part) to its proper position. b remedy (a dislocation etc.) in this way. 15 tr. Photog. make (a negative or print) less dense. 16 tr. Cookery boil off excess liquid from. Phrases and idioms: reduced circumstances poverty after relative prosperity. reduce to the ranks demote (an NCO) to the rank of private. reducing agent Chem. a substance that brings about reduction by oxidation and losing electrons. Derivatives: reducer n. reducible adj. reducibility n. Etymology: ME in sense 'restore to original or proper position', f. L reducere reduct- (as RE-, ducere bring)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Reduce Re*duce" (r[-e]*d[=u]s"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reduced (-d[=u]st"),; p. pr. & vb. n. Reducing (-d[=u]"s[i^]ng).] [L. reducere, reductum; pref. red-. re-, re- + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Redoubt, n.] 1. To bring or lead back to any former place or condition. [Obs.] And to his brother's house reduced his wife. --Chapman. The sheep must of necessity be scattered, unless the great Shephered of souls oppose, or some of his delegates reduce and direct us. --Evelyn. 2. To bring to any inferior state, with respect to rank, size, quantity, quality, value, etc.; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; to impair; as, to reduce a sergeant to the ranks; to reduce a drawing; to reduce expenses; to reduce the intensity of heat. ``An ancient but reduced family.'' --Sir W. Scott. Nothing so excellent but a man may fasten upon something belonging to it, to reduce it. --Tillotson. Having reduced Their foe to misery beneath their fears. --Milton. Hester Prynne was shocked at the condition to which she found the clergyman reduced. --Hawthorne. 3. To bring to terms; to humble; to conquer; to subdue; to capture; as, to reduce a province or a fort.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(reduces, reducing, reduced) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you reduce something, you make it smaller in size or amount, or less in degree. It reduces the risks of heart disease... The reduced consumer demand is also affecting company profits. ? increase VERB: V n, V-ed 2. If someone is reduced to a weaker or inferior state, they become weaker or inferior as a result of something that happens to them. They were reduced to extreme poverty... VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n 3. If you say that someone is reduced to doing something, you mean that they have to do it, although it is unpleasant or embarrassing. He was reduced to begging for a living. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n/-ing 4. If something is changed to a different or less complicated form, you can say that it is reduced to that form. All the buildings in the town have been reduced to rubble... VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n 5. If you reduce liquid when you are cooking, or if it reduces, it is boiled in order to make it less in quantity and thicker. Boil the liquid in a small saucepan to reduce it by half... Simmer until mixture reduces. VERB: V n, V 6. If someone or something reduces you to tears, they make you feel so unhappy that you cry. The attentions of the media reduced her to tears. PHRASE: V inflects

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Bring, restore. 2. Render, form, mould, make, shape, model, remodel, convert into, resolve into, change into, bring into, bring to. 3. Diminish, contract, lessen, abate, decrease, attenuate, contract, abridge, curtail, shorten, cut short, cut down, make less. 4. Depress, debase, lower, degrade, impair, weaken, dwarf. 5. Subdue, subject, conquer, subjugate, overpower, overthrow, vanquish, master, bring into subjection. 6. Impoverish, ruin, bring to want, bring to poverty. 7. (Math.) Solve, resolve.

Moby Thesaurus

abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abrade, abridge, abstract, acetify, acidify, acidulate, adjust, adjust to, adulterate, afflict, alkalify, alkalize, allay, alleviate, allow, alter, analyze, anatomize, anesthetize, appease, apportion, assay, assimilate to, assuage, attemper, attenuate, bank the fire, bankrupt, baptize, bate, bear down, beat down, become, beggar, belittle, bend, benumb, blunt, bob, boil down, borate, box in, break, break down, break up, bring down, bring low, bring to, bring to terms, bump, bust, capsulize, carbonate, catalyze, change, change into, change over, charge off, chasten, cheapen, chemical, chlorinate, circumscribe, clip, coarct, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, condition, conquer, consolidate, constrain, constrict, constringe, contract, control, convert, couch, count, count calories, cramp, cripple, crop, crush, curtail, cushion, cut, cut back, cut down, cut off short, cut prices, cut short, damp, dampen, de-emphasize, deaden, deaden the pain, debase, debilitate, decline, decrease, deduct, deflate, degrade, demean, demote, deplume, depreciate, depress, derange, derogate, detract, detrude, devaluate, devitalize, diet, dilute, diminish, disable, discount, disgrade, disorder, disparage, displume, dissect, distill, dive, divide, do over, dock, downbear, downgrade, downplay, drain, draw, draw in, draw together, drop, dull, dump, dump on, ease, ease matters, eat away, electrolyze, elide, enervate, enfeeble, epitomize, erode, eviscerate, exhaust, extenuate, extract, fall, fall in price, fell, ferment, file away, fix, flatten, foment, foreshorten, give relief, give way, grind, gruel, haul down, hedge, hedge about, homopolymerize, hospitalize, humble, humiliate, hydrate, hydrogenate, hydroxylate, impair, impoverish, increase, indent, indispose, invalid, irrigate, isomerize, jew down, keep within bounds, kick back, knit, knock down, lay, lay low, lay up, leach, leaven, lenify, lessen, let down, let up on, lighten, limit, lose flesh, lose weight, lower, lull, make, make allowance, make over, mark down, master, measure, minimize, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, mollify, mow, narrow, naturalize, nip, nitrate, nose-dive, numb, number, obtund, overmaster, override, oversimplify, overwhelm, oxidize, pad, palliate, parcel, pare, pauperize, pepsinate, peroxidize, phosphatize, play down, plummet, plunge, poll, pollard, polymerize, poultice, pour balm into, pour oil on, powder, press down, prostrate, prune, pucker, pucker up, pull down, pulp, purify, purse, push down, put down, qualify, quantify, quantize, quell, rarefy, rate, rattle, reap, rebate, recap, recapitulate, reconvert, reduce the temperature, reduce to, reduce to elements, reduce weight, refine, refund, regulate by, relieve, remove, render, reset, resolve, resolve into, restrain, restrict, retrench, reverse, ride down, roll back, rub, rub away, sag, salve, sap, scale down, season, segment, separate, set, set conditions, set down, set limits, shake, shake up, shave, shear, shift, shorten, sicken, simplify, sink, slacken, slake, slash, slenderize, slim, slim down, slow down, slump, smash, smother, snub, sober, sober down, soften, soften up, solidify, soothe, step down, stifle, strangle, strangulate, streamline, strip down, strip of rank, stunt, stupe, subdivide, subduct, subdue, subjugate, subtract, sulfate, sulfatize, sulfonate, sum up, summarize, suppress, switch, switch over, synopsize, take a premium, take away, take down, take from, take in, take off, take off weight, tame, telescope, temper, thin, thin down, thin out, thrust down, tone down, trample down, trample underfoot, transform, tread underfoot, trim, trip up, triturate, truncate, tune down, turn, turn back, turn into, tyrannize, unbrace, undermine, underplay, unman, unnerve, unstrengthen, unstring, vanquish, water, water down, weaken, wear away, weed, weight-watch, withdraw, work, wrinkle, write off