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 someone to despair

   to reduce a forest to ashes

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

   reduced to the ranks

   he was reduced from corporal to private

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

The benefits would be even larger if we reduced sugar consumption even further.

From Salon

These advocates called for imposing further restrictions on demolition, which the Planning Department said could significantly reduce new housing construction, including units that are mandated to be affordable to low-income households.

From Los Angeles Times

It was reduced to three years from five years in 2014, but the government is seeking views on whether to raise it to five years, 10 years, or more than 10 years.

From BBC

They will also be “as radical or aggressive as you can” in reducing full-time federal employees and contractors, he added.

From Salon

While acknowledging that inmate numbers need to be reduced, Victim Support Scotland called for "tangible" action to protect members of the public.

From BBC

Related Words

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