Definition of Reduce

Verb: reduce ri'd(y)oos

Make a reduction in, cut down on
"reduce your daily fat intake";
- cut down, cut back, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring down
Make less complex
"reduce a problem to a single question"
Bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
"He reduced the population to slavery"
(mathematics) simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
Lower in grade, rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
"She reduced her niece to a servant"
Be the essential element
"The proposal reduces to a compromise";
- come down, boil down
Reduce in size; reduce physically
- shrink
Lessen and make more modest
"reduce one's standard of living"
Make smaller
"reduce an image";
- scale down
(chemistry) 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
- deoxidize, deoxidise [Brit]
Narrow or limit
"reduce the influx of foreigners";
- tighten
Put down by force or intimidation
"The government reduces any attempt of an uprising";
- repress, quash, keep down, subdue, subjugate
Undergo meiosis
"The cells reduce"
Reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
(linguistics) destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
"The manuscript must be reduced";
- abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract
(cooking) be cooked until very little liquid is left
"The sauce should reduce to one cup";
- boil down, decoct [archaic], concentrate
(cooking) cook until very little liquid is left
"The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time";
- boil down, concentrate
Lessen the strength or flavour of a solution or mixture
- dilute, thin, thin out, cut
Take off weight
- melt off, lose weight, slim, slenderize, thin, slim down, slenderise [Brit]