Meaning of reduce

Definition of reduce

(verb) cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"; "The employer wants to cut back health benefits"
make less complex; "reduce a problem to a single question"
bring to humbler or weaker state or condition; "He reduced the population to slavery"
lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation; "She reduced her niece to a servant"
be the essential element; "The proposal boils down to a compromise"
reduce in size; reduce physically; "Hot water will shrink the sweater"; "Can you shrink this image?"
lessen and make more modest; "reduce one's standard of living"
make smaller; "reduce an image"
to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons
narrow or limit; "reduce the influx of foreigners"
put down by force or intimidation; "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land"
undergo meiosis; "The cells reduce"
reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened"
be cooked until very little liquid is left; "The sauce should reduce to one cup"
cook until very little liquid is left; "The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time"
lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture; "cut bourbon"
take off weight

Other information on reduce

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