Meaning of 'reduce'

verb

take off weight

Synonyms: thin

verb

lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture

Synonyms: thin

verb

narrow or limit

Example: "reduce the influx of foreigners"

Synonyms: tighten

verb

cook until very little liquid is left

Example: "The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time"

Synonyms: concentrate

verb

be cooked until very little liquid is left

Example: "The sauce should reduce to one cup"

Synonyms: concentrate

verb

be the essential element

Synonyms: come down boil down

verb

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

Synonyms: deoxidise deoxidize

verb

make smaller

Example: "reduce an image"

Synonyms: decrease

verb

reduce in size

Example: "reduce physically"

Synonyms: shrink

verb

make less complex

Example: "reduce a problem to a single question"

verb

reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

Synonyms: contract

verb

cut down on

Synonyms: cut

verb

destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it

verb

reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site

verb

undergo meiosis

Example: "The cells reduce"

verb

lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation

Example: "They reduced their children to servants."

verb

simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another

verb

lessen and make more modest

Example: "reduce one's standard of living"

verb

bring to humbler or weaker state or condition

Example: "The dictator reduced the population to slavery in a matter of years."

verb

put down by force or intimidation

Synonyms: keep down subdue repress quash subjugate