[re.duce] vb re.duced ; re.duc.ing [ME, to lead back, fr. L reducere, fr. re- + ducere to lead--more at tow] vt (14c) 1 a: to draw together or cause to converge: consolidate "~ all the questions to one" b (1): to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number "~ taxes" "~ the likelihood of war" (2): to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavor of by boiling "add the wine and ~ 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 "~ natural events to laws" b: to put down in written or printed form "~ 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 "~ 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 "~ 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 ~ vi 1 a (1): to become diminished or lessened; esp: to lose weight by dieting (2): to become reduced "ferrous iron ~s to ferric iron" b: to become concentrated or consolidated c: to undergo meiosis
2: to become converted or equated syn see decrease, conquer -- re.duc.er n -- re.duc.ibil.i.ty n -- re.duc.ible adj -- re.duc.ibly adv