rə̇ˈdəkshən, rēˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English reduccion, from Middle French reduction, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin reduction-, reductio reduction (in a syllogism), from Latin, action of leading or bringing back, restoration, from reductus (past participle of reducere to lead back, bring back, draw together) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at reduce
1. obsolete : redemption , restoration
reduction of the soul — Theophilus Gale
reduction of Christ from the dead — John Owen
2.
a.
(1) : domination by force : conquest , subjugation
(2) : elimination of a defended enemy position
b.
(1) : the act or process of resettlement (as by Spanish missionaries) of So. American Indians in villages or compounds for purposes of acculturation or control
(2) : a village or compound so established
3.
a.
(1) : the conversion of numbers into units of the same denomination
(2) : the reducing of an algebraic equation to its simplest terms
(3) : the determination of the true position of a celestial object by correcting observational data for known errors
(4) : the substitution for a meteorological reading of a value computed from it so as to bring all to a common basis (as pressures to sea level values)
b. : an act or instance of reproducing in a smaller size
reductions — scaled down from life size — J.C.Furnas
4.
a. : the act or process of reducing a syllogistic argument to the first figure — compare direct reduction , indirect reduction
b.
(1) : the classification or description (as of a set of terms or phenomena) in terms of what are regarded as simpler or more fundamental concepts
reduction of the complex problems of intergroup relations to attitude formation — J.R.Kantor
specifically : the process of explaining the terms of a science on the basis of and deducing its laws from those of another
the reduction of chemical to physical laws — C.H.Whiteley
(2) : analysis of a psychological motive into its instinctive elements
c. : the act or process of investing with definite form
behavioral responses which are in process of reduction to habitual terms — Ralph Linton
the reduction of generalization to particular fact — Jonathan Daniels
5. : the replacement or realignment of a body part in normal position or restoration of a bodily condition to normal
6.
a. : the process of reducing by chemical or electrochemical means
the reduction , or deoxidation, of the iron ore is brought about by carbon monoxide produced by the combustion of the coke — J.H.Bateman
the photographic process depends upon … the reduction of silver ion to metallic silver by a developing solution — C.E.K.Mees
b. : treatment under reducing conditions by exclusion of air to a point below that needed for complete combustion of fuel gases (as in a pottery kiln)
reduction produces various color effects in pottery
7.
a.
(1) : a decrease in size, amount, extent, or number : diminution ; specifically : the psychological diminishment of emotion through activity or adjustment
(2) : subtraction
arrangements can be made for premiums to be paid by reduction from salary — Irish Digest
b. : meiosis ; specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division
c. : limitation in scope : restriction
whether the reduction of existence to human existence does not seriously … restrict the domain of philosophy — J.E.Smith
8.
a. : demotion in rank
b. : lowering in condition or status : degradation
reduction of living to an animal business of … survival — Fred Majdalany
reduction to absurdity is a common device by which teachers demonstrate the essential fallacy of a proposal — Alexander Laing
9.
a. : transformation into objective form or reality
reduction of a novel to words on paper
reduction of the device to practice — Ruth Riddell
b. : transformation into a new or different form : adaptation , translation
reduction of a metaphor
every art involves a system of reduction — Stuart Gilbert
c. : a musical arrangement ; especially : a piano score or part arranged or reduced from an orchestral score
10. : an act or instance of breaking down : disintegration , processing
reduction of land surfaces … to low plains — O.D.Von Engeln
reduction of … pine by lumbering, turpentining, and fire — American Guide Series: North Carolina
reduction of fish and fish waste to … oil — Commercial Fisheries Review
specifically : the gradual crushing of grain in milling by passing it repeatedly through break rolls
11. : an act or instance of reducing phonetically