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 reduced
2 a : something made by reducing b : the amount by which something is reduced
3 [Spanish reducción, from Latin reduction-, reductio] : a South American Indian settlement directed by Jesuit missionaries
4 : meiosis 2; specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division

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