reduce reduce /rɪˈduːs/

verb

1. () Cut down on; make a reduction in  ( bring down , trim back , cut back , cut , cut down , reduce , trim , trim down )
   cut down on; make a reduction in
    Reduce your daily fat intake
   reduce your daily fat intake
    The employer wants to cut back health benefits
   The employer wants to cut back health benefits
   
2. () Make less complex  ( reduce )
   make less complex
    Reduce a problem to a single question
   reduce a problem to a single question
   
3. () Bring to humbler or weaker state or condition  ( reduce )
   bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
    He reduced the population to slavery
   He reduced the population to slavery
   
4. () Be the essential element  ( boil down , come down , reduce )
   be the essential element
    The proposal boils down to a compromise
   The proposal boils down to a compromise
   
5. () Lower in grade, rank or force somebody into an undignified situation  ( reduce )
   lower in grade, rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
    She reduced her niece to a servant
   She reduced her niece to a servant
   
6. () (mathematics) simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another  ( reduce )
   (mathematics) simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
   
7. () Reduce in size; reduce physically  ( reduce , shrink )
   reduce in size; reduce physically
    Hot water will shrink the sweater
   Hot water will shrink the sweater
    Can you shrink this image?
   Can you shrink this image?
   
8. () Narrow or limit  ( tighten , reduce )
   narrow or limit
    Reduce the influx of foreigners
   reduce the influx of foreigners
   
9. () (chemistry) 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  ( deoxidise [British] , deoxidize , reduce )
   (chemistry) 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
   
10. () Make smaller  ( scale down , reduce )
    make smaller
     Reduce an image
    reduce an image
    
11. () Lessen and make more modest  ( reduce )
    lessen and make more modest
     Reduce one's standard of living
    reduce one's standard of living
    
12. Take off weight  ( reduce , slenderize , slim , melt off , slim down , thin , lose weight )
    take off weight
      The snow began to melt off under the warm sun.
    The snow began to melt off under the warm sun.
    
13. Lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture  ( cut , reduce , thin , dilute , thin out )
    lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
     Cut bourbon
    cut bourbon
    
14. (cooking) cook until very little liquid is left  ( boil down , concentrate , reduce )
    (cooking) cook until very little liquid is left
     The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
    The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
    
15. (cooking) be cooked until very little liquid is left  ( boil down , concentrate , decoct [Archaic] , reduce )
    (cooking) be cooked until very little liquid is left
     The sauce should reduce to one cup
    The sauce should reduce to one cup
    
16. Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements  ( abbreviate , contract , cut , abridge , foreshorten , reduce , shorten )
    reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
     The manuscript must be shortened
    The manuscript must be shortened
    
17. (linguistics) destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it  ( reduce )
    (linguistics) destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
    
18. Reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site  ( reduce )
    reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
    
19. Undergo meiosis  ( reduce )
    undergo meiosis
     The cells reduce
    The cells reduce
    
20. Put down by force or intimidation  ( keep down , reduce , quash , repress , subdue , subjugate )
    put down by force or intimidation
     The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
    The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
     China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
    China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
     The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
    The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land