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re·duce
 reduce
- pronunciation:
- rih
dus
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
reduced, reduces, reducing |
| definition 1: |
to make less in amount or size.
I reduced the amount of sugar in the recipe.Building the new highway reduced traffic on the old one.Since the school budget was reduced, students receive less instruction in music and art.They temporarily reduced the price in order to increase sales.
- synonyms:
- decrease, diminish, lessen, lower, moderate, modify
- antonyms:
- enlarge, extend, heighten, increase, magnify
- similar words:
- abate, abbreviate, abridge, boil down, condense, contract, cool, cut down, degrade, lighten, narrow, pare, prune, retrench, scant, shorten, shrink, slash
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| definition 2: |
to bring to a low condition (often fol. by to).
They reduced the enemy to ruins.- synonyms:
- lower
- similar words:
- abase, damage, debase, degrade, destroy, humble, impoverish
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| definition 3: |
to lower the price of.
The store reduced all its merchandise after Christmas.- synonyms:
- bring down
- antonyms:
- raise
- similar words:
- cut, depress, discount, slash
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| definition 4: |
to separate into parts by analysis.
We'll have the substance reduced in the lab.- synonyms:
- analyze
- similar words:
- break down, fractionate
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| definition 5: |
to make thinner; dilute.
This lemonade is too strong; add some water to reduce it.- synonyms:
- cut, dilute, water down
- similar words:
- thin
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| related words: |
abbreviate, allay, alleviate, boil down, bust, commute, concentrate, curtail, deaden, deduct, demean, deplete, depreciate, diminish, dock, dwindle, mitigate, moderate, mollify, overshadow, relax, remainder, shade, slim, soothe, stem, trim |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to decrease in weight, or to lose weight intentionally through dieting.
I'm avoiding desserts since I'm trying to reduce.- synonyms:
- diet, slenderize, slim down, thin down
- antonyms:
- fatten
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| definition 2: |
to become reduced; become smaller or less.
The redness of the skin will slowly reduce. |
| related words: |
abate, narrow |
| derivations: |
reducible (adj.), reducibility (n.) |
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