REDUCE


Meaning of REDUCE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ri-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs ]

verb

( 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 vowel

intransitive verb

1.

a.

(1) : to become diminished or lessened ; especially : to lose weight by dieting

(2) : to become reduced

ferrous iron reduce s to ferric 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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.