reduce definition

1. cut down on; make a reduction in
• examples: reduce your daily fat intake
• examples: The employer wants to cut back health benefits
2. make less complex
• examples: reduce a problem to a single question
3. bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
• examples: He reduced the population to slavery
4. simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
5. lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
• examples: She reduced her niece to a servant
6. be the essential element
• examples: The proposal boils down to a compromise
7. lessen and make more modest
• examples: reduce one's standard of living
8. make smaller
• examples: reduce an image
9. narrow or limit
• examples: reduce the influx of foreigners
10. undergo meiosis
• examples: The cells reduce
11. reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
12. destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
13. cook until very little liquid is left
• examples: The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
14. take off weight