reduce
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.
Cooking. 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.
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.
Origin of reduce
1Other words for reduce
Opposites for reduce
Other words from reduce
- an·ti·re·duc·ing, adjective, noun
- non·re·duc·ing, adjective
- o·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. 2024
How to use reduce in a sentence
Other research has hypothesized that masks can filter out some of the virus-carrying particles, reducing the viral dose and how ill the wearer may become.
Inconclusive results, missing data: Experts push back on a study questioning the efficacy of masks | Meryl Kornfield | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostMasking, social distancing and limited capacity can reduce the risk of transmission indoors but cannot eliminate it.
Virginia’s coronavirus numbers are rising. Here’s what you need to know. | Antonio Olivo | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostThe experts made the recommendation after the results of a global trial sponsored by the WHO, called Solidarity, found last month that remdesivir didn’t reduce deaths.
WHO advises against using Gilead’s remdesivir to treat hospitalized COVID patients | Claire Zillman, reporter | November 20, 2020 | FortuneThe city’s only free skating rink will reduce capacity by one-third and requires reservations for skating and rentals.
NYC for the holidays: The city’s classic traditions have been tweaked for the times | Andrea Sachs | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostSome have highlighted the decline in emissions this year as a positive sign for our collective ability to rapidly change behaviors and practices in ways that could reduce the risks of climate change.
US emissions plummeted this year—for all the wrong reasons | James Temple | November 19, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
Getting men to do their share of care and domestic work is a key overlooked strategy in reducing poverty.
How Good Dads Can Change the World | Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThis represents major progress in reducing conflict financing.
Aaron Rodgers Takes Aim at Congo’s ‘Blood Minerals’ War | John Prendergast | December 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYeah, I mean, as far as Maggie goes, her reducing a church to just “four walls and a roof” says a lot about the character.
‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Scott Gimple Teases ‘Darker, Weirder’ Times Ahead | Melissa Leon | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt's also become the largest energy producer in the world, even while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Politics End In Halifax As Democratic and GOP Senators Seek Common Ground on National Security | Tim Mak | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTVictorious Republican Gov. Nathan Deal boasted of his progress in reducing the number of incarcerated black men in Georgia.
The discharge-valve was then opened for a moment, allowing a blast of steam to escape, reducing the pressure say to one-half.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThe children succeeded in catching the dog and reducing him to order, although it was clear he liked very much to chase hens.
The Box-Car Children | Gertrude Chandler WarnerThe necessity of reducing these pirates is acknowledged in every prince's cabinet; yet no one undertakes their reduction.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10) | Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)Dressed Monte's withers with liniment greatly reducing swelling from saddle-gall.
Cabin Fever | B. M. BowerIt contains directions for draining, clearing, and inclosing a farm, and for enriching the soil and reducing it to tillage.
Landholding In England | Joseph Fisher
British Dictionary definitions for reduce
/ (rɪˈdjuːs) /
(also intr) to make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity, etc
to bring into a certain state, condition, etc: to 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; subjugate: the 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; demote: he was reduced from corporal to private; reduced to the ranks
to set out systematically as an aid to understanding; simplify: his 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 electrons: Compare 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
Origin of reduce
1Derived forms of reduce
- reducible, adjective
- reducibility, noun
- reducibly, adverb
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
Browse