Reduce | Mean of reduce in English Dictionary

/rɪˈduːs/

• Verb
• to make (something) smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
1. The medicine reduces the risk of infection.
2. We are trying to reduce our debt.
3. Stricter speed limit enforcement has reduced the number of car accidents.
4. Her prison sentence was reduced from 15 years to 10.
5. a drastically reduced price
• to cause (someone) to be in a specified state or condition
1. The movie's ending reduced them to tears. [=made them cry]
2. The crowd was reduced to silence. [=became suddenly silent]
• to cause (something) to be in a specified form by breaking it, burning it, etc.
1. reduce stone to powder
2. mountains that will someday be reduced to sand
3. Their house was reduced to ashes [=was completely burned/destroyed] by the fire.
4. The city was reduced to rubble/ruins by the bombing.

• to force (someone) to do something that causes shame, embarrassment, etc.
1. The museum has been reduced to begging for funding.
• to describe (something) in a way that includes only some of the facts and details
1. You're reducing religion to a list of do's and don'ts.
2. Her argument can be reduced to a few essential points.
• to boil (a liquid) so that there is less of it
1. Simmer the broth until it is reduced to 2 cups. [=until there are only two cups of it]
2. Simmer the broth until it reduces to 2 cups.
• to change (someone's rank) to a lower or less important one
1. As part of her sentence, the sergeant's rank was reduced to private.
• to gradually decrease your weight by eating less
1. He's on a (weight) reducing diet.
• to change (a fraction) so that it is written with the lowest possible numbers
1. You can reduce ²/₄ to ¹/₂.
• a situation in which you have less money than you used to have
1. He found himself living in reduced circumstances after he lost his job.
2. We will have to adjust to our reduced circumstances.