Main Entry:

re·duc·tion

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈdək-shən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English reduccion restoration, from Middle French reducion, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin reduction-, reductio reduction (in a syllogism), from Latin, restoration, from reducere

Date:

15th century

1: the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced2 a: something made by reducing b: the amount by which something is reduced3 [Spanish reducción, from Latin reduction-, reductio] : a South American Indian settlement directed by Jesuit missionaries4: meiosis 2 ; specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division

— re·duc·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective