Meaning of reduce in English
Table of contents
Pronunciation
/rəˈd(j)us/US accent
UK accent
to browse different examples of pronunciation.Verb
reduceEtymology
late Middle English: from Latin reducere, from re-‘back, again’ + ducere‘bring, lead’. The original sense was ‘bring back’ (hence ‘restore’, now surviving in reduce (sense 5)); this led to ‘bring to a different state’, then ‘bring to a simpler or lower state’ (hence reduce (sense 3)); and finally ‘diminish in size or amount’ (reduce (sense 1), dating from the late 18th century)Definitions
1. cut down onExamples
- « make a reduction in »
- « reduce your daily fat intake »
- « The employer wants to cut back health benefits »
Derived terms
- 2. make less complex
Examples
- « reduce a problem to a single question »
Derived terms
- 3. bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
Examples
- « 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
Examples
- « She reduced her niece to a servant »
- 6. be the essential element
Examples
- « The proposal boils down to a compromise »
- 7. reduce in size
Examples
- « reduce physically »
- « Hot water will shrink the sweater »
- « Can you shrink this image? »
Derived terms
- 8. lessen and make more modest
Examples
- « reduce one's standard of living »
- 9. make smaller
Examples
- « reduce an image »
Antonyms
Derived terms
- 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
Antonyms
Derived terms
- 11. narrow or limit
Examples
- « reduce the influx of foreigners »
- 12. put down by force or intimidation
Examples
- « The government quashes any attempt of an uprising »
- « China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently »
- « The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land »
Derived terms
- 13. undergo meiosis
Examples
- « The cells reduce »
- 14. reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
- 15. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
Examples
- « The manuscript must be shortened »
Antonyms
Derived terms
- 16. be cooked until very little liquid is left
Examples
- « The sauce should reduce to one cup »
Derived terms
- 17. cook until very little liquid is left
Examples
- « The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time »
Derived terms
- 18. lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
Examples
- « cut bourbon »
Derived terms
- 19. take off weight
Antonyms
Derived terms
Famous quotes
- « NASA has been one of the most successful public investments in motivating students to do well and achieve all they can achieve. It's sad that we are turning the programme in a direction where it will reduce the amount of motivation and stimulation it provides to young people. » Neil Armstrong
- « A rise in the level of saving can reduce aggregate activity temporarily but only a sustained high level of saving makes it possible to have the sustained high level of business investment that contributes to the long-run growth of output. » Martin Feldstein
- « Growing hemp as nature designed it is vital to our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases and ensure the survival of our planet. » Jack Herer
- « If we can reduce the cost and improve the quality of medical technology through advances in nanotechnology, we can more widely address the medical conditions that are prevalent and reduce the level of human suffering. » Ralph Merkle
- « Prevention is one of the few known ways to reduce demand for health and aged care services. » Julie Bishop