reducing Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent
   reduction.
   
2. noun loss of excess weight (as by dieting); becoming slimmer
   
   • a doctor supervised her reducing
3. verb cut down on; make a reduction in
   trim; cut; cut back; bring down; reduce; cut down; trim down; trim back.
   
   • reduce your daily fat intake
   • The employer wants to cut back health benefits
4. verb make less complex
   reduce.
   
   • reduce a problem to a single question
5. verb bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
   reduce.
   
   • He reduced the population to slavery
6. verb simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
   reduce.
   
7. verb lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
   reduce.
   
   • She reduced her niece to a servant
8. verb be the essential element
   boil down; reduce; come down.
   
   • The proposal boils down to a compromise
9. verb reduce in size; reduce physically
   reduce; shrink.
   
   • Hot water will shrink the sweater
   • Can you shrink this image?
10. verb lessen and make more modest
    reduce.
    
    • reduce one's standard of living
11. verb make smaller
    scale down; reduce.
    
    • reduce an image
12. verb 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; reduce; deoxidise.
    
13. verb narrow or limit
    tighten; reduce.
    
    • reduce the influx of foreigners
14. verb put down by force or intimidation
    subdue; reduce; repress; quash; subjugate; keep down.
    
    • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
    • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
    • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
15. verb undergo meiosis
    reduce.
    
    • The cells reduce
16. verb reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
    reduce.
    
17. verb destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
    reduce.
    
18. verb reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
    reduce; cut; abbreviate; abridge; shorten; contract; foreshorten.
    
    • The manuscript must be shortened
19. verb be cooked until very little liquid is left
    decoct; reduce; concentrate; boil down.
    
    • The sauce should reduce to one cup
20. verb cook until very little liquid is left
    boil down; concentrate; reduce.
    
    • The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
21. verb lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
    thin out; cut; dilute; reduce; thin.
    
    • cut bourbon
22. verb take off weight
    slim; melt off; slenderize; reduce; slim down; lose weight; thin.
    

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