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reduce Definition

re·duce (ri do̵̅o̅s′, -dyo̵̅o̅s′)

transitive verb -·duced′, -·duc′·ing

    1. to lessen in any way, as in size, weight, amount, value, price, etc.; diminish
    2. to put into a simpler or more concentrated form
  2. to bring into a certain order; systematize
  3. to break up into constituent elements by analysis
    1. to put into a different form to reduce a talk to writing
    2. to change to a different physical form, as by melting, crushing, grinding, etc.
  5. to lower, as in rank or position; demote; downgrade
    1. to bring to order, attention, obedience, etc., as by persuasion or force
    2. to subdue or conquer (a city or fort) by siege or attack
    1. to bring into difficult or wretched circumstances a people reduced to poverty
    2. to compel by need to do something reduced to stealing
    1. to weaken in bodily strength; make thin reduced to skin and bones
    2. to thin (paint, lacquer, etc.), as with turpentine
  9. Arith. to change in denomination or form without changing in value to reduce fractions to their lowest terms
  10. Chem.
    1. to decrease the positive valence of (an element or ion)
    2. to increase the number of electrons of (an atom, element, or ion)
    3. to remove the oxygen from; deoxidize
    4. to combine with hydrogen
    5. to bring into the metallic state by removing nonmetallic elements
  11. Cooking to boil (a liquid) in order to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavors
  12. Phonet. to articulate (a vowel) in a central position, giving it a neutral quality, as in an unstressed syllable
  13. Photog. to weaken or lower the density of (a negative or print) by removing metallic silver
  14. Surgery to restore (a broken bone, displaced organ, etc.) to normal position or condition

Etymology: ME reducen < L reducere, to lead back < re-, back + ducere, to lead: see duct

intransitive verb

  1. to become reduced
  2. to lose weight, as by dieting

reduce Related Forms

re·duc′·ibil′·ity noun re·duc′·ible adjective re·duc′·ibly adverb

reduce Synonyms

reduce

v.

  1. To make less

    decrease, lessen, diminish, cut down; see decrease 2.

  2. To defeat

    conquer, overcome, subdue; see defeat 1, 2.

  3. To lower in rank or position

    degrade, demote, abase; see disgrace, humble, humiliate. See syn. study at decrease.

reduce Usage Examples

Object

  • risk: A drug called warfarin is also commonly advised to reduce the risk of having a stroke.
  • emission: The UK Energy White Paper sets a national target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 % by 2050.
  • amount: None have achieved any advance in reducing the amount of drug harm.
  • cost: How can I reduce the cost of solder by 60 % ?
  • crime: This did reduce crime over the period of the Initiative.
  • inequality: Government policies to reduce inequality must give you more power over your life.

Subject

  • two-third: A truly encouraging performance on crime was delivered by the New York police between 1993 and 2001, where it was reduced by two-thirds.
  • %: Village records show that typhoid is reduced by 90 % once there is access to clean potable water.
  • percent: The original elephant seal population of about 93,000 to 110,000 animals was reduced by 70 percent as a result of these operations.

Modifying Another Word

significantly: Low protein diets during early pregnancy in rats were found to significantly reduce birth weight of pups.

Infinitive complement

zero: And the most telling drop was in Reading boro where the 12 road deaths in 2000 had been reduced to zero by last year.

Present participle complement

  • wait: In other areas we are also making improvements and aim to reduce waiting times even further.
  • gazump: The Government claim the HIPâs will reduce gazumping and reduce the number of sales that fall through.
  • operate: Sound waste management practice by textiles manufacturing companies can significantly reduce operating costs.
  • accord: The concentration in the body does not float down but reduces more rapidly according to the intake.
  • clot: This reduces the deposition of fats on the walls of the arteries, reducing clotting of blood vessels and the heart.

Preposition: in

size: CT repeated two weeks later showed that the tumor had reduced in size from 8cm to 5cm in diameter.

Preposition: by

  • two-third: A truly encouraging performance on crime was delivered by the New York police between 1993 and 2001, where it was reduced by two-thirds.
  • %: Village records show that typhoid is reduced by 90 % once there is access to clean potable water.
  • percent: The original elephant seal population of about 93,000 to 110,000 animals was reduced by 70 percent as a result of these operations.