reduction

re·duc·tion   (rĭ-dŭk'shən)    n.   The act or process of reducing. The result of reducing: a reduction in absenteeism. The amount by which something is lessened or diminished: a reduction of 12 percent in violent crime. Biology The first meiotic division, in which the chromosome number is reduced. Also called reduction division. Chemistry A decrease in positive valence or an increase in negative valence by the gaining of electrons. A reaction in which hydrogen is combined with a compound. A reaction in which oxygen is removed from a compound. The canceling of common factors in the numerator and denominator of a fraction. The converting of a fraction to its decimal equivalent. The converting of an expression or equation to its simplest form. Mathematics The canceling of common factors in the numerator and denominator of a fraction. The converting of a fraction to its decimal equivalent. The converting of an expression or equation to its simplest form. [Middle English reduccion, restoration, from Old French reduction, from Latin reductiō, reductiōn-, from reductus, past participle of redūcere, to bring back; see reduce.] re·duc'tion·al adj.

reduction

Any chemical reaction in which the atoms in a material take on electrons.

Note: Reduction is the opposite of oxidation.

Main Entry: re·duc·tion
Pronunciation: ri-'d&k-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the replacement or realignment of a body part in normalposition or restoration of a bodily condition to normal
2 : the process of reducing by chemical or electrochemical means
3 : the psychological diminishment ofemotion or needs through activity or adjustment reduction>
4 : MEIOSIS; specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division

reduction re·duc·tion (rĭ-dŭk'shən)
n.

1. The act, process, or result of reducing.

2. The amount by which something is lessened or diminished.

3. Restoration of an injured or dislocated part to its normal anatomical relation by surgery or manipulation. Also called repositioning.

4. The first meiotic division, in which the chromosome number is reduced. Also called reduction division, reduction of chromosomes.

5. A decrease in positive valence or an increase in negative valence by the gaining of electrons.

6. A reaction in which hydrogen is combined with a compound.

7. A reaction in which oxygen is removed from a compound.

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re·duc'tion·al adj.

reduction
(Or "contraction") The process of transforming an expression according to certain reduction rules. The most important forms are beta reduction (application of a lambda abstraction to one or more argument expressions) and delta reduction (application of a mathematical function to the required number of arguments).
An evaluation strategy (or reduction strategy), determines which part of an expression (which redex) to reduce first. There are many such strategies.
See graph reduction, string reduction, normal order reduction, applicative order reduction, parallel reduction, alpha conversion, beta conversion, delta conversion, eta conversion.
(1995-02-21)