reduce

re•duce

[[t]rɪˈdus, -ˈdyus[/t]] v. -duced, -duc•ing

1) to bring down to a smaller size, amount, price, etc

2) to lower in degree, intensity, etc

3) to demote to a lower rank

4) to treat analytically, as a complex idea

5) to act destructively upon (a substance or object):

a house reduced to ashes[/ex]

6) to bring to a certain state:

to reduce someone to tears[/ex]

7) coo to evaporate water from, as a sauce, by boiling

8) to change the denomination or form, but not the value, of (a fraction, polynomial, etc.)

9)

a) to deoxidize

b) to add hydrogen to

c) chem. to decrease the positive charge on (an ion) by adding electrons

10) chem. mel to convert (ore minerals) to a metallic state by driving off nonmetallic elements; smelt

11) to thin or dilute:

to reduce paint with turpentine[/ex]

12) to restore to the normal place, relation, or condition, as a fractured bone

13) phn to pronounce (a vowel) as (ə) or another unstressed, centralized vowel

14) to become reduced

15) to lose weight, as by dieting

16) to be equal to or turned into something

17) to undergo meiosis

or authority. Etymology: 1325–75; to lead back < L redūcere to lead back, bring back =re- re-+dūcere to lead re•duc′er,n. re•duc•i•ble,adj. re•duc`i•bil′i•ty,n. re•duc′i•bly,adv.