shorten Hear it!

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 © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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