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View synonyms for reduce

reduce

[ri-doos, -dyoos]

verb (used with object)

reduced, reducing 
  1. to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, number, etc..

    to reduce one's weight by 10 pounds.

    Antonyms: increase
  2. to lower in degree, intensity, etc..

    to reduce the speed of a car.

    Synonyms: abate, attenuate, lessen
  3. to bring down to a lower rank, dignity, etc..

    a sergeant reduced to a corporal

    Synonyms: humble, demote, degrade
    Antonyms: exalt, elevate
  4. to treat analytically, as a complex idea.

  5. to lower in price.

  6. to bring to a certain state, condition, arrangement, etc..

    to reduce glass to powder.

  7. to bring under control or authority.

  8. Cooking.,  to evaporate water from (a sauce, soup, or other liquid), usually by boiling.

  9. Photography.,  to lessen the density of (an exposed negative).

  10. to adjust or correct by making allowances, as an astronomical observation.

  11. Mathematics.,  to change the denomination or form, but not the value, of (a fraction, polynomial, etc.).

  12. Chemistry.

    1. to add electrons to.

    2. to deoxidize.

    3. to add hydrogen to.

    4. to change (a compound) so that the valence of the positive element is lower.

  13. Chemistry, Metallurgy.,  to bring into the metallic state by separating from nonmetallic constituents.

  14. to thin or dilute.

    to reduce paint with oil or turpentine.

  15. to lower the alcoholic concentration of (spirits) by diluting with water.

  16. Surgery.,  to restore to the normal place, relation, or condition, as a fractured bone.

  17. 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.



verb (used without object)

reduced, reducing 
  1. to become reduced.

  2. to become lessened, especially in weight.

  3. to be turned into or made to equal something.

    All our difficulties reduce to financial problems.

  4. Cell Biology.,  to undergo meiosis.

reduce

/ rɪˈdjuːs /

verb

  1. (also intr) to make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity, etc

  2. to bring into a certain state, condition, etc

    to reduce a forest to ashes

    to reduce someone to despair

  3. (also intr) to make or become slimmer; lose or cause to lose excess weight

  4. to impoverish (esp in the phrase in reduced circumstances )

  5. to bring into a state of submission to one's authority; subjugate

    the whole country was reduced after three months

  6. to bring down the price of (a commodity)

    the shirt was reduced in the sale

  7. to lower the rank or status of; demote

    he was reduced from corporal to private

    reduced to the ranks

  8. to set out systematically as an aid to understanding; simplify

    his theories have been reduced in a popular treatise

  9. maths to modify or simplify the form of (an expression or equation), esp by substitution of one term by another

  10. cookery to make (a sauce, stock, etc) more concentrated by boiling away some of the water in it

  11. to thin out (paint) by adding oil, turpentine, etc; dilute

  12. (also intr) chem

    1. to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction with hydrogen or formation of a hydride

    2. to lose or cause to lose oxygen atoms

    3. to undergo or cause to undergo an increase in the number of electrons Compare oxidize

  13. 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

  14. surgery to manipulate or reposition (a broken or displaced bone, organ, or part) back to its normal site

  15. (also intr) biology to undergo or cause to undergo meiosis

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • antireducing adjective
  • nonreducing adjective
  • overreduce verb
  • reducibility noun
  • reducible adjective
  • reducibly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of reduce1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English reducen “to lead back,” from Latin redūcere “to lead back, bring back,” equivalent to re- re- + dūcere “to lead”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of reduce1

C14: from Latin redūcere to bring back, from re- + dūcere to lead
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The regulator has said that is supported in the pricing data, which shows that, for most customers, prices have reduced.

From BBC

Kent has already started winding down some courses to reduce costs as it posted a deficit for another year in 2024.

From BBC

The aim of restricting reserve access is to help Reeves stick to her borrowing rules by reducing government borrowing and keep department spending within totals announced at the June Spending Review.

From BBC

They were a way to help control the spread of the virus, reduce severity and save lives.

Swinney is lobbying for the current 10% rate to be reduced or removed on the basis that it would benefit both Scottish and US distillers.

From BBC

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