Reduce Definition
reduce
verb
- cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"; "The employer wants to cut back health benefits"
- make less complex; "reduce a problem to a single question"
- bring to humbler or weaker state or condition; "He reduced the population to slavery"
- simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
- lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation; "She reduced her niece to a servant"
- be the essential element; "The proposal boils down to a compromise"
- reduce in size; reduce physically; "Hot water will shrink the sweater"; "Can you shrink this image?"
- lessen and make more modest; "reduce one's standard of living"
- make smaller; "reduce an image"
- 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
- narrow or limit; "reduce the influx of foreigners"
- put down by force or intimidation; "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land"
- undergo meiosis; "The cells reduce"
- reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
- destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
- reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened"
- be cooked until very little liquid is left; "The sauce should reduce to one cup"
- cook until very little liquid is left; "The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time"
- lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture; "cut bourbon"
- take off weight
"Reduce" in song lyrics
See how reduce is used in real songs:
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"K-L is quick to let loose, to make your blood count reduce"
Cormega f/ Nas, Screwball — On the Real -
"Anything I'm blasting the pain can reduce"
Fiend — War 4 Reason -
"To any size, big or small, and I can even reduce"
Stetsasonic — My Rhyme
Words that rhyme with reduce
Usage tips for "reduce"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "reduce" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for reduce to find words that pair well.