reduce

reduce [ri do͞os′, ridyo͞os′]

vt.

reduced, reducing [ME reducen < L reducere, to lead back < re-, back + ducere, to lead: see DUCT]

1.

a) to lessen in any way, as in size, weight, amount, value, price, etc.; diminish

b) to put into a simpler or more concentrated form

2. to bring into a certain order; systematize

3. to break up into constituent elements by analysis

4.

a) to put into a different form [to reduce a talk to writing]

b) to change to a different physical form, as by melting, crushing, grinding, etc.

5. to lower, as in rank or position; demote; downgrade

6.

a) to bring to order, attention, obedience, etc., as by persuasion or force

b) to subdue or conquer (a city or fort) by siege or attack

7.

a) to bring into difficult or wretched circumstances [a people reduced to poverty]

b) to compel by need to do something [reduced to stealing]

8.

a) to weaken in bodily strength; make thin [reduced to skin and bones]

b) to thin (paint, lacquer, etc.), as with turpentine

9. Arith. to change in denomination or form without changing in value [to reduce fractions to their lowest terms]

10. Chem.

a) to decrease the positive valence of (an element or ion)

b) to increase the number of electrons of (an atom, element, or ion)

c) to remove the oxygen from; deoxidize

d) to combine with hydrogen

e) to bring into the metallic state by removing nonmetallic elements

11. Cooking to boil (a liquid) in order to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavors

12. Phonet. to articulate (a vowel) in a central position, giving it a neutral quality, as in an unstressed syllable

13. Photog. to weaken or lower the density of (a negative or print) by removing metallic silver

14. Surgery to restore (a broken bone, displaced organ, etc.) to normal position or condition

vi.

1. to become reduced

2. to lose weight, as by dieting

SYN.- DECREASE

reducibility

n.

reducible

adj.

reducibly

adv.