Main Entry:

re·duce

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

re·duced; re·duc·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, to lead back, from Latin reducere, from re- + ducere to lead — more at tow

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1 a: to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate <reduce all the questions to one> b (1): to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number <reduce taxes> <reduce the likelihood of war> (2): to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavor of by boiling <add the wine and reduce the sauce for two minutes> c: to narrow down : restrict <the Indians were reduced to small reservations> d: to make shorter : abridge2archaic : to restore to righteousness : save3: to bring to a specified state or condition <the impact of the movie reduced them to tears>4 a: to force to capitulate b: force, compel5 a: to bring to a systematic form or character <reduce natural events to laws> b: to put down in written or printed form <reduce an agreement to writing>6: to correct (as a fracture) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions7 a: to lower in grade or rank : demote b: to lower in condition or status : downgrade8 a: to diminish in strength or density b: to diminish in value9 a (1): to change the denominations or form of without changing the value (2): to construct a geometrical figure similar to but smaller than (a given figure) b: to transpose from one form into another : convert c: to change (an expression) to an equivalent but more fundamental expression <reduce a fraction>10: to break down (as by crushing or grinding) : pulverize11 a: to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements <reduce an ore by heat> b: deoxidize c: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen d (1): to change (an element or ion) from a higher to a lower oxidation state (2): to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)12: to change (a stressed vowel) to an unstressed vowelintransitive verb1 a (1): to become diminished or lessened ; especially : to lose weight by dieting (2): to become reduced <ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron> b: to become concentrated or consolidated c: to undergo meiosis2: to become converted or equated

synonyms see decrease, conquer

— re·duc·er noun

— re·duc·ibil·i·ty \-ˌdü-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē, -ˌdyü-\ noun

— re·duc·ible \-ˈdü-sə-bəl, -ˈdyü-\ adjective

— re·duc·ibly \-blē\ adverb