reduce

transitive verb reduced -·duced′, reducing -·duc′·ing

1. 1. to lessen in any way, as in size, weight, amount, value, price, etc.; diminish
   2. to put into a simpler or more concentrated form
2. to bring into a certain order; systematize
3. to break up into constituent elements by analysis
4. 1. to put into a different form to reduce a talk to writing
   2. to change to a different physical form, as by melting, crushing, grinding, etc.
5. to lower, as in rank or position; demote; downgrade
6. 1. to bring to order, attention, obedience, etc., as by persuasion or force
   2. to subdue or conquer (a city or fort) by siege or attack
7. 1. to bring into difficult or wretched circumstances a people reduced to poverty
   2. to compel by need to do something reduced to stealing
8. 1. to weaken in bodily strength; make thin reduced to skin and bones
   2. to thin (paint, lacquer, etc.), as with turpentine
9. Arith. to change in denomination or form without changing in value to reduce fractions to their lowest terms
10. Chem.
    1. to decrease the positive valence of (an element or ion)
    2. to increase the number of electrons of (an atom, element, or ion)
    3. to remove the oxygen from; deoxidize
    4. to combine with hydrogen
    5. to bring into the metallic state by removing nonmetallic elements
11. Cooking to boil (a liquid) in order to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavors
12. Phonet. to articulate (a vowel) in a central position, giving it a neutral quality, as in an unstressed syllable
13. Photog. to weaken or lower the density of (a negative or print) by removing metallic silver
14. Surgery to restore (a broken bone, displaced organ, etc.) to normal position or condition

Etymology: ME reducen < L reducere, to lead back < re-, back + ducere, to lead: see duct

intransitive verb

1. to become reduced
2. to lose weight, as by dieting