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shorten definition

shorten (s̸hôrt′'n)

transitive verb

  1. to make short or shorter; reduce in length, amount, or extent
  2. to furl or reef (a sail) so that less canvas is exposed to the breeze
  3. to add shortening in making (pastry, etc.) for crispness or flakiness

intransitive verb

to become short or shorter

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

shorten Synonyms

shorten

v.

curtail, abridge, abbreviate, condense, compress, shrink, reduce, decrease, cut short, cut, pare down; see also decrease 2.

shorten implies reduction in length, extent, or duration to shorten a rope, a visit, one's life, etc.; curtail implies a making shorter than was originally intended, as because of necessity or expediency expenditures curtailed because of a reduced income; abridge implies reduction in compass by condensing, omitting parts, etc. but usually connotes that what is essential is kept to abridge a dictionary; abbreviate usually refers to the shortening of a word or phrase by contraction or by substitution of a symbol, but also has extended, sometimes jocular applications an abbreviated account of events, an abbreviated costume


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

shorten Usage Examples

Object

  • lifespan: Refrain from sex: In many species, having sex seems to shorten lifespan.

Modifying Another Word

  • considerably: Actual lease terms have shortened considerably during the last ten years.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: Most short priced horses shorten up nearer the race time.

Used with why or when

  • when: It extended as I went back, only to shorten when pulling me back in.

Infinitive complement

  • make: The original interview was shortened to make room for additional material when it was republished on Ford's death - the version used here.

Present participle complement

  • accord: The itinerary can be lengthened or shortened according to your own preferences.

Preposition: in

  • length: Soft actuators are only able to perform work as they shorten in length.

Preposition: for

  • group: Duration: 1½ hours ( can be shortened for younger groups ) Charge: £ 3.25 per child.

Preposition: by

  • inch: The following year, the model was shortened by 1/4 inch.
shorten usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"shorten." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/shorten>

APA Style

shorten. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/shorten

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