Definition of reduce - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
decrease sizemake smaller or less in amount
- The company plans to reduce its workforce by 10%..
2.
cookingTECH. make a liquid thicker by boilingTECH.
- Reduce the sauce until it thickens.
3.
problem-solvingTECH. convert a problem to a simpler formTECH.
- The problem was reduced to a known algorithm.
4.
healthintr. lose weightintr.
- She decided to reduce before the wedding.
5.
mathematicsTECH. simplify a mathematical expressionTECH.
- You can reduce the equation by canceling out equal terms..
6.
weakenbring to a weaker or more difficult condition
- The illness reduced him to a shadow of his former self..
7.
chemistryTECH. add electrons or remove oxygen in a reactionTECH.
- The compound was reduced in the reaction.
8.
medicalTECH. restore a fracture to correct alignmentTECH.
- The doctor reduced the dislocated shoulder.
Expressions with reduce
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break something into a soft, mushy state
She reduced the tomatoes to a pulp for the sauce.
make someone or something very weak
The illness reduced him to a shadow of his former self.
destroy completely leaving nothing behind
The bomb reduced the entire city to ashes.
crush something into a soft, shapeless mass
She reduced the tomatoes to pulp for the sauce.
destroy completely leaving only debris
The earthquake reduced the entire town to rubble.
cause someone to cry from strong emotions
His harsh words reduced her to tears.
simplify something to its most basic form
They reduced the business plan to a skeleton.
cause someone to feel hopeless or without hope
The constant failures reduced him to despair.
destroy something completely into small pieces
The storm reduced the old barn to matchwood.
make someone stop talking
The teacher's stern look reduced the noisy class to silence.
cause movement to become slower for safety or better control
Drivers must reduce speed near the school.
destroy completely leaving no trace
The fire reduced the old house to nothing.
make something become nothing
The new policy aims to reduce to zero the number of accidents.
make something smoother or easier to move
The new lubricant will reduce friction between the gears.
lower volume to a whisper
He reduced his voice to a whisper to avoid being overheard.
lower prices to sell items quickly
The store reduced to clear all the summer clothes.
crush or grind something until it becomes fine powder
They reduce to powder the dried herbs for the recipe.
put spoken or agreed words into written form
They decided to reduce the contract to writing for clarity.
make someone surrender or comply by force
The army reduced the rebels to submission.
remove from a higher position to the lowest rank
He was reduced to the ranks after breaking the rules.
disprove a statement by showing absurd result
The scientist reduced to absurdity the theory by demonstrating its impossible implications.
make someone extremely poor or a beggar
The war reduced many families to beggary.
destroy completely leaving nothing behind
The fire reduced the documents to nought.
Origin of reduce
Latin, reducere (to lead back)
Terms with reduce included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
polite request
ask someone to reduce their speaking speed
reduction
reduce the size or amount of something
motion
reduce the speed of something
reduce tightness
make less tight or fixed
communication
reduce the volume of one's voice
efficiency
reduce the amount of time needed
time
reduce the duration of an event
decelerate
reduce speed or velocity
device
reduce the volume or brightness of something
reduce upset
make someone or something less upset or worried
reduce price
deduct a percentage from a price
reduce
decrease in amount or intensity
reduction
reduce the amount or degree of something
reduce activity
cause to be less active
reduce density
make something less thick or dense
cooking
reduce in quantity by boiling
cooking
reduce a liquid by heating until it thickens or evaporates
physical
reduce impact when someone is falling
protect from falling
stop or reduce the force when someone is falling
reduction
reduce the amount or level
psychology
reduce someone's fear or anxiety through reassurance or action
relaxation
reduce someone's anxiety or stress
reduce worry
make someone feel less afraid or worried
reduce anxiety
make someone less nervous or anxious
Examples of reduce in a sentence
She managed to reduce her weight significantly. To enhance the flavor, reduce the broth by half. The chef instructed to reduce the wine before adding it to the dish. The equation was reduced to a simple formula. He reduced the complex issue to a straightforward question. He reduced gradually after changing his diet.
Her doctor advised her to reduce safely. To solve the problem, reduce the fraction to its simplest form. You should reduce the polynomial to make it easier to work with. The drought reduced the river to a trickle. The scandal reduced his reputation to tatters. The scientist aimed to reduce the metal ions. In the lab, they reduce compounds regularly. The surgeon needed to reduce the broken bone quickly. They used imaging to help reduce the fracture accurately.
View all translations of reduce
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:réduire, faire réduire, ...
- German:reduzieren, einkochen, ...
- Italian:diminuire, concentrare, ...
- Spanish:reducir, espesar, ...
- Portuguese:diminuir, simplificar, ...
- Chinese:减少, 熬煮, ...
- Japanese:減らす, 煮詰める, ...
- Arabic:قَلَّلَ, اِخْتَزَل, ...
- Hebrew:לְהַפְחִית, לְצַמְצֵם, ...
- Russian:сократить, уваривать, ...
- Ukrainian:зменшити, уварити, ...
- Hindi:कम करना, गाढ़ा करना, ...
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