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 verb 1 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 : abridge
2 archaic : to restore to righteousness : save
3 : 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, compel
5 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 positions
7 a : to lower in grade or rank : demote b : to lower in condition or status : downgrade
8 a : to diminish in strength or density b : to diminish in value
9 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) : pulverize
11 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 verb 1 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 meiosis
2 : 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